The level of actual physical activity in Japanese women with cardiac diseases is not clear. This study aims to identify the level in such women during the three months immediately after discharge from a hospital.

Method

This is an ongoing one-year-study in which patients were recruited from a hospital. Data were collected at the time of discharge, and at one-month, three-month and one year follow-up appointments following discharge. For analysis at this time, only the data from the three months after discharge in 12 patients were used. In order to participate, patients had to be female with ischemic heart disease, over 40% ejection fraction (EF), below 76 years of age and free from depression. Disease severity such as EF (M-Mode) was obtained from the patient's chart. The variables were exercise energy expenditure (EEE) indicating physical activity levels measured by a microelectronic device, resting energy expenditure (REE) measured by a portable calorimeter, and various self-reported behaviors. The study was approved by the IRB.

Results

The mean age was 66.3±6.5. Discharge EF was 64.8±10.4%. The mean foot steps were 3628±2114 at the first month follow-up and 3545±1920 at the third (t=0.11, p=0.918); the EEE/kg/day was 1.34±0.79kcal and 1.31±0.78 (t=0.11,p=0.916), respectively. The mean REE/kg/day was 17.18±3.62kcal at the time of discharge, 19.02±4.65 at the first month follow-up, and 18.11±3.98 at the third month (RMANOVA, F=0.67,df=2,p=0.520), indicating no changes. EF and third month EEE were negatively correlated, but insignificant (r=-0.29,p=0.41).

Conclusions

These results may suggest that physical activity levels of women with good EF do not increase after discharge from a hospital. An individual and gender based-exercise program is necessary in order to enhance cardiac health during the recovery process.