Background-Whether cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is effective in patients older than 75 years, who have been excluded from most trials, remains unclear. We enrolled patients 46 to 86 years old in a randomized trial and assessed the effects of 2 months of post-myocardial infarction (MI) CR on total work capacity (TWC, in kilograms per meter) and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Methods and Results-Of 773 screened patients, 270 without cardiac failure, dementia, disability, or contraindications to exercise were randomized to outpatient, hospital-based CR

This study provides evidence that in selected patients who have undergone cardiac surgery, rehabilitation outcomes are also favorable in patients aged 75 yrs or more, and an early rehabilitation program is as effective and safe as a traditionally late one.