Comparison of the improvement of flow-mediated dilatation in patients with acute coronary syndrome versus stable angina after six-month cardiac rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: We investigated whether the improvement in endothelial function, measured using flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), an important predictor of cardiovascular outcomes, was comparable in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) versus stable angina patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and a six-month cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programme. Methods: We analysed the results from 119 patients who completed a six-month CR programme after successful PCI for stable angina (n = 50) and ACS (n = 69). Results: After six months of CR, the results of FMD were significantly improved in both groups. There were no significant between-group differences in the FMD results at the six-month follow up. Conclusion: After successful PCI and a six-month CR programme, FMD values were equally improved in both stable angina and ACS patients.