There's scarce information about the efficacy and security for implementation of recreational sports in advance face III Community base Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR).

To compare prospectively the rate of sport injuries between patients (pts) in CR who played sports with modified rules (MRS) and adults who played sports in the same institution.

We studied 140 p in CR and 146 adults (SA) who play sports. They were followed up for 4 months. We recorded all events (cardiovascular and muscle-skeletal injuries). The sports and MRS performed were: Volley, Tennis, Swimming and or soccer.

Results:

Mean age was 62.82 +/- 10 in CR group, (92.9% males) and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.69 +/- 3.35 kg/m². Secondary prevention (history of coronary by pass surgery, myocardial infarction, coronary angioplasty or stable chronic angina) was the main indications for CR in 85.7% pts, the rest were primary prevention. We observed the following rate of cardiovascular risk factors (CRF): 72.1% dyslipidaemias (DL), 62.9% hypertension (HTN), 10.7% diabetics (DB) and 8.6% current smokers. The adherence to sports in CR pts was 71.4%. At the moment of this study, 70.7% pts in the CR group were on treatment for >= 1 year. Mean age of SA was 48, 19 +/- 6.1, (62.3% males), mean BMI was 20.93 +/- 3.44 kg/m². The presence of CRF was: current smokers 24%, DL 15.8%, HTN 12.3%, and DB el 1.4%. At the moment of this study, 79.5% of SA group were playing sports for >= 1 year. CR group suffered 16 (11.4%) non severe muscle-skeletal injuries and 5 non severe cardiovascular events. SA group suffered 9 (6.2%) non severe muscle-skeletal injuries and no one cardiovascular event. The incidence of muscle-skeletal injuries between groups, compared with Chi² were non significant P = 0.172. The incidence of cardiovascular events between groups compared with Chi² were non significant P = 0.069.

Conclusions:

The implementation of MRS in CR was safe. With caution, MRS can be including in advance face III CV programs.