Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Has a Strong Relationship with Mean Platelet Volume Reduction

Background: Mean platelet volume (MPV), which is a simple measure of platelet activation, has recently become an interesting topic in cardiovascular research. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a comprehensive intervention that decreases mortality-morbidity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Studies on the effects of exercise on platelet activation have yielded conflicting results. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an exercise-based CR programs on MPV in patients with stable CAD. Methods: The sample was composed of 300 consecutive stable CAD patients. The patients were divided into two groups: CR group (n = 97) and non-CR group (n = 203). Blood analysis was performed. Point-Biserial correlation measures were performed to show correlation between MPV change and CR. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The decrease in MPV was greater in the CR group than in the non-CR group [(-1.10(-1.40-(-0.90)) vs. (-0.10 (-2.00-0.00)); p< 0.001]. Delta MPV had a positive correlation with Delta neutrophil (r = 0.326, p < 0.001), Delta TG (r = 0.439, p < 0.001), Delta LDL-c (r = 0.478, p < 0.001), Delta WBC (r = 0.412, p < 0.001), and Delta CRP (r = 0.572, p < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between Delta MPV% and CR (r=0.750, p<0.001). Conclusions: We were able to show that exercise-based CR has a strong relationship with MPV reduction in patients with CAD. We consider that decreased platelet activation with exercise-based CR might play an important role in reducing thrombotic risk in patients with stable CAD.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effect of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs on mean platelet volume (MPV) in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. The results showed a significant reduction in MPV in the CR group, with a strong correlation between MPV reduction and CR. The findings suggest that decreased platelet activation through exercise-based CR may play a role in reducing thrombotic risk in patients with CAD.