The importance of three-stage cardiac rehabilitation in patients with acute coronary syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Introduction. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have worse prognosis than those without diabetes. Risk of adverse outcome in this cohort remains high despite the introduction of new methods of invasive treatment of ACS. The use of all-inclusive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs allows improving prognosis in patients with ACS and T2DM. Aim. The aim of the study was to evaluate impact of two- or three-stage CR on long-term prognosis in patients with ACS and T2DM. Methods. The study included 251 ACS patients hospitalized in the department of cardiology, of which 120 patients with T2DM. Management of ACS was carried out in accordance with the clinical recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology (2015, 2017). All patients underwent standard laboratory and instrumental examination. We analyzed prognostic parameters (myocardial revascularization, myocardial infarction and mortality) during 12 months of follow-up in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with ACS who underwent two or a three-stage CR. Additionally, the achievement of the combined endpoint, which include at least one of the ACE, was analyzed. Results. Long-term prognosis in ACS patients who underwent three-stage CR in diabetic and non-diabetic groups did not differ significantly. However, the frequency of repeated myocardial revascularization was higher in patients with T2DM in comparison with non-diabetic patients inside the two-stage CR subgroup. Conclusion. Three-stage CR should be recommended in diabetic patients with ACS to improve long-term prognosis.