Comparison of Cardiac Rehabilitation Benefits Between Coronary and Non-coronary Patients Through a 24 Months Follow-up After Myocardial Infarction: the "INCARD" Study (INCARD)

We will undertake a prospective follow-up study of 150 rehabilitated patients with heart failure (75 C; 75 NC). The main objective will be to compare the benefits of rehabilitation between coronary and non-coronary patients based on functional improvement i.e. improvements of VO2max, LVEF (ultrasound method and/or isotopic), 6-min walk test, Minnesota index of quality of life. In addition, clinical outcomes (HR, SBP, DBP, BMI) and paraclinical data (creatinine clearance) will be measured as patients' standard clinical follow-up .

Clinical data of the patients admitted to the cardiac rehabilitation, including heart failure patients (LVEF <40), will be recorded after collection of their signed informed consent agreement. Patients will be addressed from heart failure intensive care units for coronary (USIC) or acute cardiac services to the rehabilitation department. Patients will be admitted in the rehabilitation department when there are clinically stable (at least three weeks after the acute episode). Etiology of the heart failure will be assessed and patients stratified as C or NC patients.

Expected Results We will estimate the mean duration of inpatient rehabilitation (H period). Then, we will follow patients' cardiac evaluation parameters recorded from an outpatient follow-up, first 3 months after inclusion and then every 6 months over the 24 months of outpatient follow-up.

These data will allow for comparison of the benefits of rehabilitation between coronary (C) and non-coronary (NC) patients for each evaluation time point and will give information on the clinical improvement of each group of patients.