Clinical Characteristics of Cardiovascular Disease Patients With Dynapenia and the Effects of Outpatient Physical Therapy.

BACKGROUND

Dynapenia is characterized by normal muscle mass with low muscle function, but its response to cardiac rehabilitation is not fully understood, so we aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients with dynapenia and evaluate the effects of a 3month outpatient physical therapy program.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

Data from 62 CVD patients who completed the outpatient physical therapy program were analyzed; 12 (19.4%) met the diagnostic criteria for dynapenia. After 3 months, short Physical Performance Battery scores increased from 10.4±1.3 to 11.2±1.9, knee extension strength from 0.43±0.19 to 0.46±0.19 kgf/kg, and Mini Nutritional Assessment®︎ scores from 22.4±3.2 to 25.5±2.8 (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Outpatient physical therapy may improve physical function, muscle strength, and nutritional status in CVD patients with dynapenia.