A Lifestyle-Integrated Resistance-Based Exercise Intervention for Sarcopenic Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Sarcopenia is an important prognostic indicator for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). No study has explored the effects of resistance-based exercise on sarcopenic patients with CAD.</p><p><strong>Hypothesis:</strong> Patients who receive the lifestyle-integrated resistance-based exercise intervention would have better physical performance, skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, cardiac-related functional status, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychological distress after the intervention than those who receive usual care.</p><p><strong>Aims:</strong> To examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of the strength-building lifestyle-integrated intervention among sarcopenic CAD patients on physical performance, skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, cardiac-related functional status, HRQoL and psychological distress.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> This two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial recruited community-dwelling older CAD patients with sarcopenia. Patients in the intervention group received the 12-week individualized, progressive, low-to-moderate intensity resistance-based exercise intervention delivered through in-person and online supervised approach. The control group received usual care.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Thirty-eight participants (mean age: 69.0 ± 4.9 years) were randomized into the intervention (n = 21) or control (n = 17) group. The intervention was feasible and acceptable. The lost to follow-up rate was 7.9%, and the overall attendance was 92%. No adverse events were recorded. The intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in HRQoL (β = 0.417, 95%CI: 0.036 - 0.798, p = 0.032) and functional status (β = -1.342, 95%CI: -2.808 - -0.124, p = 0.043) than the control group at the immediate post-intervention. No significant between-group changes in physical performance, muscle mass and strength, and psychological distress were detected.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The intervention is feasible and acceptable for CAD patients. It improves patients HRQoL and functional status. A full-scale randomized controlled trial is warranted to investigate its effects.</p>