Improvements in blood rheology after cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training in patients with coronary heart disease

Objectives Our purpose was to examine the effect of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training on blood rheology in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Although increased blood and plasma viscosity have been associated with an increased risk of CHD, the effects of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training on blood rheology in patients with CHD are uncertain. Methods We assessed whole blood effective viscosity (μ), hematocrit standardized blood viscosity (μ45), red blood cell transport efficiency (τrbc), and plasma viscosity (PV) in 23 nonsmoking patients with CHD before and after a phase II cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training program. In addition, we compared the group data with the data of a healthy reference group of 10 subjects. Results Patients with CHD had significantly elevated μ (3.35 ± 0.35 cp vs 3.06 ± 0.19 cp, P < .05) and μ45 (3.51 ± 0.29 cp vs 3.12 ± 0.06 cp, P < .001) and reduced τrbc (12.7% ± 1.0% · cp-1 vs 14.2% ± 0.7% · cp-1, P < .001) compared with healthy subjects. After rehabilitation, patients with CHD had reductions in PV (1.85 ± 0.18 cp vs 1.77 ± 0.11 cp, P < .01) and μ45 (3.58 ± 0.22 cp vs 3.39 ± 0.22 cp, P < .0001) and an increase in τrbc (12.4% ± 0.8% · cp-1 vs 13.2% ± 0.9% · cp-1, P < .0001). Conclusions Cardiac rehabilitation improves blood rheology in patients with CHD by reducing μ45 and PV and elevating τrbc. These improvements may contribute to the increased functional capacity and reduced morbidity and mortality that is associated with participation in cardiac rehabilitation and exercise programs. (Am Heart J 2002;143:349-55.)