758–6 Does Moderate to High Intensity Exercise Affect Left Ventricular Remodeling In Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients After Myocardial Infarction?

LV remodeling (LVR) can occur after MI and may adversely affect prognosis. The effect of regular moderate to high intensity exercise on LVR after MI is debated and needs further study. LVR was evaluated in 44 patients using serial echocardiographic measures including % abnormal wall motion (%AWM) and endocardial surface area/body surface area index (ESAi) taken initially 8±5 wks post MI (echo 1) and 12 weeks later (echo 2). Data were compared between 22 consecutive pts who exercised 3x/wk for 30 minutes at 60–85% HR reserve vs 22 control pts without exercise training, who were matched for age, sex, medications, type and site of MI, revascularization, and %AWM. Exercise patients improved peak MET levels from 5.7±2.3 to 7.7±2.0 (p<0.001). Serial echo data in the two groups follows:Exercise (n=22)Control (n=22)%AWMecho1Exercise (n=22)Control (n=22)echo218.68±137218.26±14.11ESAi (cm2/m2)18.00±13.4217.33±14.77echo156.89±9.3064.26±10.33echo254.57±74056.89±9.37No significant change in %AWM and ESAi occurred in either group from echo 1 to echo 2. Thus, in this group of consecutive patients carefully matched for size and location of infarct, moderate to high intensity exercise does not appear to adversely affect LVR early after MI