Effects of cardiac rehabilitation on cardiac autonomic functions in ankylosing spondylitis patients: A randomized controlled study

Abstract

Aim: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease that has various adverse effects on cardiac autonomic
functions. On the other hand, there is no data regarding the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on cardiac autonomic functions in AS
patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on cardiac autonomic nervous system parameters
in patients with AS.
Materials and Methods: This study was designed as a prospective randomized controlled trial. The study was carried out in December
2015 - August 2016. 34 patients who fulfilled the modified New York criteria were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly
assigned into case and control groups each consisting of 17 patients. The cardiac rehabilitation program was applied to the case
group for eight weeks. Patient evaluation with clinical assessment, echocardiography, and exercise stress testing was performed
before and after treatment.
Results: A total of 34 patients made the final study population (37.35± 5.22 years, 55.9% male). There were no significant differences
regarding the baseline characteristics between case and control groups. Patients in the case group had better MET levels, exercise
time, resting heart rate, and chronotropic reserve than the control patients following cardiac rehabilitation.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that significant improvement in cardiac autonomic functions can be obtained in AS patients when
the cardiac rehabilitation program is combined with the medical treatment.