Exercise training early after acute myocardial infarction reduces stress-induced hypoperfusion and improves left ventricular function

Forty-six patients with recent STEMI and residual inducible hypoperfusion were randomized into two groups: 25 enrolled in a 6-month outpatient exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme (group T) and 21 discharged with generic instructions for maintaining physical activity and correct lifestyle (group C). All patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test and dipyridamole rest gated myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography within 1 week after STEMI and at 6-month follow-up.

Exercise training might exert its beneficial effects on myocardial perfusion by inducing coronary vascular adaptations or enhancing collateralization. We evaluated whether long-term exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation started early after ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) improves myocardial perfusion and left ventricular (LV) function.