This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in women with coronary artery disease (CAD) in comparison to men. Methods: Patients after acute coronary syndrome or after revascularization procedures (106 women, 180 men) were consecutively admitted to a comprehensive outpatient CR program, comprising of 45-min ergometer interval training three times a week for eight weeks. The training intensity was determined on the basis of training heart rate, calculated following an exercise test. Patients were divided into subgroups according to age (≤55, >55 years), BMI ( 50%. In women with CAD, eight weeks of 45-min interval training, with sessions three times a week, is insufficient to improve exercise capacity to an extent that is considered a predictor of mortality risk reduction.

Background/Objectives: Dietary habits are among the most significant determinants of health. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional quality and cardiovascular profiles of individuals following plant-based diet. Methods: The study population comprised 199 individuals (136 women, 63 men; mean age 33.9 ± 8.9 years) including vegans (VG; n = 50), vegetarians (VN; n = 101) and omnivores (OV; n = 48). In this analysis the following procedures were assessed: a questionnaire interview, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, and a blood sample collection. Dietary patterns were evaluated using the Food Frequency Questionnaire and a 24-h dietary recall. Results: Vegans exhibited the lowest protein intake relative to the other groups (p < 0.05) and a significantly higher intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids and lower intake of cholesterol compared to VN and OV (p < 0.05). Vegans had significantly lower levels of serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, fasting glucose and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p < 0.05). No cases of overweight or obesity were observed among VN and VG participants. No instances of impaired fasting glucose or elevated blood pressure were noted among vegans. Hypercholesterolemia was identified in 56.2% of OV, 26.7% in VN and 16.0% in VG (p < 0.05), elevated blood pressure was recorded in one vegetarian and in 6.2% of OV participants. Conclusions: Our research indicates that plant-based diets are associated with a better cardiovascular profile compared to traditional diets. Moreover, suboptimal intake of essential nutrients, underscores the need for more effective public health interventions and improved nutrition education regardless of dietary patterns.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that dietary factors may affect cardiometabolic health, but the associations between the quality of plant-based diets and chronic-low grade inflammation have been insufficiently explored. The aim of this study was to examine the association between dietary indices and inflammatory markers in the studied cohort of vegans and vegetarians living in urban Poland. Methods: The study population comprised 198 individuals (mean age 33.6 yrs) including vegans (VG; n = 50), vegetarians (VN; n = 101) and omnivores (OV; n = 47). The following methods were used in this analysis: a questionnaire interview, anthropometric measurements and blood sample collection. Dietary patterns were evaluated using the Food Frequency Questionnaire and overall plant-based diet index (PDI) and healthful plant-based index (hPDI) were used to define adherence to plant-based dietary patterns. Results: Vegans had substantially lower hsCRP concentration and lymphocyte counts than VN and OV (p < 0.05). IL-6 concentrations, as well as total WBC, neutrophils, and lymphocytes counts, were significantly higher in OV compared to the other groups. In the overall study population, higher intake of plant-based foods was associated with lower mean levels of hsCRP, IL-6, glucose, lipids, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and total WBC counts (p < 0.05). Among vegetarians, higher consumption of healthful plant-based foods was associated with lower levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and selected inflammatory biomarkers. Conclusions: Our research indicates that the quality of plant-based diets is a critical determinant of cardiometabolic and inflammatory health. Importantly, eliminating animal products alone does not guarantee health benefits; rather, the composition and quality of plant-based foods are key.

The study evaluated the influence of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on heart rate variability (HRV) in men with coronary artery disease (CAD) with and without diabetes. Method: The study population included 141 male CAD patients prospectively and consecutively admitted to an outpatient comprehensive CR program. Twenty-seven patients with type-2 diabetes were compared with 114 males without diabetes. The participants performed a 45-min cycle ergometer interval training alternating 4-min workload and a 2-min active restitution three times a week for 8 weeks. The training intensity was adjusted so that the patient’s heart rate achieved the training heart rate calculated according to the Karvonen formula. At the baseline and after 8 weeks, all the patients underwent the HRV assessment. Results: HRV indices in the patients with diabetes were significantly lower as compared to the patients without diabetes in SDNN, TP, LF parameters, both at the baseline and after 8 weeks of CR. After 8 weeks of CR, a significant improvement of TP, SDNN, pNN50% and HF occurred in the patients without diabetes, whereas in the patients with diabetes only HF component improved significantly. Conclusions: As regards HRV indices, CR seems to be less effective in patients with CAD and type-2 diabetes.

Background: Despite the use of advanced treatment techniques, coronary artery disease (CAD) still remains the main cause of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and heart failure. Participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs can lead to a number of beneficial effects, but some patients do not demonstrate the expected improvement. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of CR on changes in exercise capacity with regard to the presence of LV dysfunction. Methods: A group of 428 patients with CAD were consecutively admitted to an outpatient comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program comprising 24 exercise sessions of interval training on cycle ergometers, three times a week for 45 min, and a health education. The patients were compared in two subgroups, i.e., with LV systolic dysfunction (LVEF < 50%, n = 175) and LVEF ≥ 50% (n = 253). Results: In the LVEF < 50% group, the exercise capacity improved by 1 ± 0.78 MET (median 1.15 MET), and 0.86 ± 0.77 MET (median 1.08 MET) in the LVEF ≥ 50% group. Women with LVEF < 50% demonstrated a significant increase in exercise capacity by 1.2 MET, while those with LVEF ≥ 50% did not display any such increase. All men, regardless of LVEF, exhibited a similar improvement in exercise capacity greater than 1 MET. Conclusions: An outpatient eight-week cardiac rehabilitation program based on 45 min aerobic interval training sessions three times a week appears less effective for women with CAD and EF ≥ 50%. In this group, the proposed training intervention is insufficient in improving exercise capacity to an extent that could indicate a reduction in mortality risk.