Predictors of pre-rehabilitation exercise capacity in elderly European cardiac patients – The EU-CaRE study

Abstract

Surgical procedures, cumulative comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors were the factors with the strongest relation to reduced exercise capacity in the elderly. Expression of peak VO₂ per lean mass rather than body mass allows a more appropriate comparison between sexes. Haemoglobin is strongly related to peak VO₂ and should be considered in studies assessing exercise capacity, especially in studies on patients after cardiac surgery.