Abstract

Objective: Increased aerobic exercise capacity appears to reduce both all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality. Physical exercise to improve maximal. oxygen consumption (VO2max) is thus strongly recommended, however evidence regarding the most efficient training intensity for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is stilt lacking. The purpose of this randomized study was to assess the effects of aerobic exercise for increasing VO2max in stable CAD-patients. Methodology: Thirty stable CAD-patients were randomized to supervised walking 30 min three times a week for 10 weeks. Before and after training VO2max was predicted from Bruce treadmill test. Results: Before training VO2max was 35.2 +/- 4.32ml/kg/min and after training the mean VO2max was 43.1 +/- 3.4ml/kg/min. This difference was significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Aerobic exercise is effective for increasing VO2max in stable CAD-patients. As VO2max seems to reflect a continuum between health and cardiovascular disease and death, the present data may be useful in designing effective training programmes for improved health in the future.