Effect of Aerobic Exercise Program on Inflammatory Parameters and Framingham Risk Score in High Cardiac Risk Patients

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of an 8-week aerobic exercise program on the inflammatory parameters and the Framingham risk score in patients with high cardiac risk.
METHODS: The patients with high cardiac risk according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel-3 criteria were studied. Totally, 50 patients were included in the study, and 25 (50.0%) patients were applied to an aerobic exercise program for 30 min/day for 3 days a week. There were 25 (50.0%) patients in the control group.
RESULTS: The study included 50 patients and the mean age of the patients was 61.0±5.0 years. At the end of the study, hs-CRP levels decreased in the exercise group [1.1 (0.1–4.2) mg/dL vs 0.9 (0.1–3.8) mg/dL] and in the control group [1.2 (0.2–4.3) mg/dL vs 1.0 (0.1–4.0) mg/dL] (<0.001 and p=0.008, respectively). Homocysteine levels [13.4 (4.8–27.3) μmol/L vs 11.8 (4.0–21.6) μmol/L] decreased in the exercise group, but they did not change in the control group [13.2 (5.1–28.2) μmol/L vs 13.4 (4.4–27.1) μmol/L](p<0.001, and p=0.776, respectively). Fibrinogen levels decreased in the exercise group [4.1 (1.6–5.9 g/L vs 3.4 (1.2–5.0) g/L], but they did not change in the control group [4.0 (1.4–6.1) g/L vs 3.9 (1.4–5.7) g/L] (p<0.001 and p=0.348, respectively). The Framingham risk score decreased in the exercise [24.1±2.9 vs 20.3±3.3] and control groups [22.8±2.7 vs 19.5±2.7] (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Regular aerobic exercise is effective and safe to prevent probable cardiovascular events in high cardiac risk patients in addition to medical therapy.