2. Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU

Purpose: Many patients with acute coronary syndrome experience problematic or altered sexual function. This aspect of the disease is frequently ignored or overlooked by the healthcare community even though it can strongly influence health-related patient quality of life (HRQoL). Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of a specific cardiac rehabilitation programme focused on aerobic and neuromuscular strength-resistance training to those of a classic rehabilitation programme, both in terms of HRQoL and erectile dysfunction in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Methods: This study reports both secondary and unregistered outcomes from a double-blinded, randomised, and controlled clinical trial. The proposed intervention was based on the completion of a 20-session (10-week) cardiac rehabilitation programme for patients with cardiovascular disease. The patient cohort had been diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome and was recruited at the Cardiology Service of a private tertiary hospital. The outcomes assessed in this study were HRQoL and erectile disfunction assessed at baseline, after the intervention, and at a 6-month follow-up. Results: A total of 30 participants were randomly allocated to each study arm. The results of the two-way mixed ANOVAs showed significant group × time interactions for all the outcome measures (EQ-5D_index, p = 0.004; EQ-5D_VAS, p = 0.017; QLMI-Q, p ≤ 0.001; and IIEF-5, p = 0.001). Conclusion: The neuromuscular strength training programme was more effective than the classic strength training programme in terms of increasing the HRQoL and improving erectile dysfunction in patients following acute coronary syndrome, with differences still remaining between these groups at the 6-month follow-up.

The aim of the present clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of neuromuscular versus classical strength-resistance training as part of a cardiac rehabilitation programme in patients following acute coronary syndrome. The study is designed as a double-blinded, randomised, and controlled clinical trial. Thirty participants suffering from acute coronary syndrome who meet our inclusion criteria will be recruited by a private tertiary hospital. The intervention group will follow 20 sessions of a cardiac rehabilitation programme divided into two parts: aerobic training and neuromuscular strength-resistance training. The control group will complete the same aerobic training as well as a classical strength-resistance training workout programme. The primary outcome of the study will be the mean difference in change from baseline in the Incremental Shuttle Walking Test. The secondary outcomes will be the cardiorespiratory fitness of the patients (assessed by means of the Chester Step Test), lower-limb performance (assessed with the 30-Second Chair Stand Test and Single- Leg Squat Test), lower-limb strength (hip flexor handheld dynamometry), sexual dysfunction assessment (Sex Health Inventory for Men) and quality of life (EQ-5D-5L). This work will provide evidence for the effectiveness of a neuromuscular versus a classic strength-training programme in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness, lower-limb performance capacities and quality of life, in cardiac patients. The data obtained could lead to more effective and functional workouts which, in turn, may enhance the speed at which these patients can return to their everyday activities of life and improve the efficiency of their movement patterns and heart responses. Furthermore, patients may find neuromuscular workout routines more motivating and engaging, thus encouraging them to adopt healthier lifestyle patterns.