Effects of 9-18 Weeks of Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation After a Major Cardiovascular Event in Patients With CVD

Effects of 9-18 Weeks of Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation After a Major Cardiovascular Event in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease-AHH-ICR

Implement an intensive cardiac rehabilitation program at Arkansas Heart Hospital (AHH) to find out if the AHH-ICR is equivalent to the CMS approved programs when it comes to results.

Implement the ICR Program to determine if

1. AHH-ICR will increase patients physical and psychological well-being and is non-superior/comparable to current ICR programs.
2. To determine the most appropriate ICR program protocols to improve fitness and decrease cardiovascular risk factors.
3. To determine if the ICR program has a direct relationship to improvements in the health of cardiovascular patients.
4. To determine non-inferiority to already established ICR programs in the United States.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Eligible for cardiac rehab per CMS requirements.
2. Males and Females Age ≥ 65≤ 85 years
3. Acute myocardial infarction within the preceding 6 months
4. Coronary artery bypass surgery
5. Current stable angina pectoris (chest pain)
6. Heart valve repair or replacement
7. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary stenting
8. BMI ≥ 18 ≤35
9. HgA1C ≤10

Exclusion Criteria:

- 1. Renal or hepatic dysfunction 2. Amputees (unless both groups have similar patients) 3. Current chemo/radiation treatment (unless both groups have similar patients) 4. Malnutrition 5. HIV/AIDS 6. Post-Bariatric surgery patients 7. History of substance abuse 8. Gastroparesis 9. Patients taking Warfarin/Coumadin 10. CHF patients on fluid restrictions requiring monitoring of water intake from food and liquids.

11. Cognitive deficits that would preclude cardiac rehabilitation 12. Patients with physical limitations that would prevent cardiac rehabilitation 13. Patients who are unable to attend the program 14. Patient who live >45… miles from cardiac rehab center