ABSTRACT

Purpose:  To determine the weekly effect of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on perceived stress and mood states in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods:  Twenty-one patients were measured every week for eight weeks on perceived stress and mood states (fatigue, vigor, tension, and friendship), using the scale of perceived stress (EEP-10) and the profile of mood states (POMS). Functional exercise capacity was obtained based on the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) at pre- and post-CR. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine outcomes differences. Effect sizes were also calculated, and probability was set at level p < 0.05.

Results:  Patients reduced stress, F (8-160) = 7.72, p < 0.01, η2 =.279, 11.5±4.3 to 5.7±4.3 score 50% post CR. Stress reduced from week 1, 11.5±4.3 to 8.0±4.6, p = 0.049 and was maintained subsequently. Fatigue decreased, F (8-160) = 4.3, p = 0.016, η2 =.178, 6.3±5.2 to 2.6±2.3, score, 58% after CR. The change in fatigue was observed until week 7, 6.3±5.2 to 3.1±3.8, p =.010. Vigor increased, F (8-160) =7.1, p = 0.0019, η2 =.263, 12.2±4.6 to 16.0±3.6, score, 31% more post CR. The improvement in vigor was observed until week 5, 12.2±4.6 to 3.6±16.1, p = 0.009 and it was maintained afterward. Tension decreased, F (8-160) =7.8, p = 0.005, η2 =.281, 6.0±4.5 to 2.4±2.8 score, 60% less post CR. The decrease in tension was observed at week 3, 6.0±4.5 to 3.2±3.1, p = 0.037 and remained at week 5, 6 and 8, p = 0.004, p = 0.005, p = 0.005, respectively. Friendship only improved 12.5% at week 5, 15.2±3.1 to 17.1±2.7, p = 0.015. The 6MWT distance improved 26%, 444±86 to 559±88m, ES = 1.2, p < 0.01.

Conclusion:  Our eight-week exercise-based CR was effective on reducing the levels of perceived stress and improving the mood states of vigor, fatigue, and tension.

Key words: Cardiac Rehabilitation; Perceived Stress; Mood States.