EXERCISE CONDITIONING IN THE ELDERLY CORONARY PATIENT

We compared conditioning effects of a surpervised exercise program in 100 elderly and younger patients with a recent coronary event. Twenty-one patients were .gtoreq. 62 years of age (mean, 65 years) and 79 were .ltoreq. 61 years of age (mean, 48.7 years). While the elderly patients attained a lower peak exercise intensity on entry and on completion of the exercise protocol, they obtained a similar relative training benefit as the younger patients. Peak exercise intensity increased 68% in each group and submaximal (five METS) heart rate-blood pressure product decreased 27% in the older patients and 26% in the younger patients. Rate of entry into our program was substantially lower in the elderly patient group, 19% v 57% in younger patients (P < 0.001) despite a similar inhospital recruiting effort. Thus, although elderly coronary patients obtain similar training benefits as younger patients, they are less likely to participate in a program designed to decrease cardiac disability.