Effect of exercise rehabilitation training on cardiac function and quality of life after PCI for acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise rehabilitation training on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and quality of life in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: This study included 180 patients with AMI who underwent PCI between January 2022 and February 2024, and the patients were divided into control group (n = 90) and exercise group (n = 90) according to the randomized numeric table method. The control group was given routine care, and the exercise group was given rehabilitation exercise training on the basis of the control group. The rehabilitation exercise training lasted for 3 months, covering the inpatient rehabilitation period and the post-discharge rehabilitation period, with low-intensity bed and bedside activities as the main focus during the inpatient period, and aerobic exercise combined with strength and flexibility training as the main focus after discharge. The primary endpoint was LVEF at 3 months. Key secondary endpoints included exercise capacity [6-minute walk distance (6MWD)], quality of life [36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)], biomarkers of inflammation/oxidative stress, and adverse cardiovascular events. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups (P > 0.05). After 3 months, LVEF improved in both groups, with a greater increase in the exercise group (between-group P ≤ 0.01). Exercise rehabilitation also improved 6MWD and SF-36 domains and reduced adverse cardiovascular events [8/90 (8.9%) vs. 18/90 (20.0%); risk ratio 0.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.97; P = 0.034]. Conclusion: Adding exercise rehabilitation to usual care after PCI for AMI improved LVEF and key clinical outcomes. These findings support routine integration of structured exercise rehabilitation in post-PCI care.