CARDIOVASCULAR REHABILITATION BASED ON AEROBIC AND RESISTANCE TRAINING IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC CORONARY SYNDROMES

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in Brazil and, among them, coronary artery disease (CAD) was the leading cause of death in the country. CAD includes symptomatic and asymptomatic clinical conditions related to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. Chest pain caused by myocardial ischemia, known as angina pectoris, is usually brought on by exertion or emotional stress. Physical exercise has numerous benefits on cardiovascular risk factors and the cardiovascular system, such as improvement in angina through increased myocardial oxygen delivery and increased exercise capacity, an independent predictor of increa-sed survival. Cardiovascular rehabilitation (CVR) based on physical exercises has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular mortality and hospitalizations in patients with CAD. CVR is recommended for a healthy lifestyle and for managing cardiovascular risk factors by prescribing 30 to 60 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity five or more days a week, and resistance exercise to maintain muscle mass, strength and function two to three days a week. CVR has been recommended as a treatment also for refractory angina. Although CVR has already been considered a feasible and safe therapeutic possibility for these patients, cardiac rehabilitation centers are reluctant to accept patients with angina or complicated cardiovascular history due to fear of adverse events during physical training despite scientifically proven safety.