Comparison of the Effect of Eight Weeks Aerobic and Combined Exercise on Some Hemodynamic Indicators in Middle-Aged Male Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Introduction: Exercise training by modulating blood pressure and heart rate have a protective role for middle-aged cardiac patients. Aim of this study was to compare the effect of eight weeks of aerobic and combined exercise on some hemodynamic indicators in middle-aged male patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Methods: In this clinical trial, a sample of 30 middle-aged men who underwent coronary artery surgery in 2023 were enrolled after meeting predetermined eligibility criteria and randomized for participation. They were divided into three aerobic (n=10), combined (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The individuals of the 2 intervention groups performed selected aerobic and combined exercises (with an intensity of 55 - 75% of the maximum heart rate, for 60 minutes) for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week. Blood pressure, heart rate and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) were measured before and after the intervention. The parametric paired sample t-test, one-way ANOVA test and Tukey's Test were used to examine differences at a significance level of P ≤ 0.05. Results: The effect of aerobic exercises on systolic blood pressure (P=0.036), diastolic blood pressure (P=0.040) and heart rate (P=0.013) was significant and caused a decrease in these indicators, but the decrease in the combined group was not significant (P>0.05). The intergroup effect difference was not significant (P>0.05). In both aerobic (P=0.000) and combined (P=0.007) groups, the peripheral oxygen saturation has increased significantly and intergroup mean difference was significant (P=0.004). Conclusion: It seems that aerobic and combined exercises as a helpful intervention strategy to improve hemodynamic indicators, make the patient more adaptable to the conditions after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.