Exercise Reduces Recurrence Risk by 13%
Seoul Asan Medical Center’s vascular surgeon, Professor Kwon Joon-gyo, is seen attending to a cardiovascular patient. Patients who have experienced cardiovascular diseases like myocardial infarction often avoid exercising due to concerns about straining their hearts. However, recent research indicates that consistent exercise can reduce the risk of recurrence in such patients.
On the 12th, Seoul Asan Medical Center announced that Professor Kwon Joon-gyo and his team of vascular surgeons conducted a seven-year follow-up study on over 30,000 domestic patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome. They found that patients who consistently engaged in moderate-intensity or higher exercise had up to a 13% reduced risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Acute coronary syndrome, a type of cardiovascular disease, results from sudden blockage or narrowing of heart vessels. Conditions like myocardial infarction and unstable angina are typical examples.
Professor Kwon’s team utilized data from the National Health Insurance Service to track patients aged 20 and older who were diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome and underwent coronary intervention or coronary bypass surgery between 2010 and 2017, for an average of 6.7 years. These patients had undergone national health check-ups before and after their diagnosis. The researchers measured changes in exercise levels based on responses to exercise-related surveys during these check-ups.
The results showed that the group continuously engaged in moderate or higher intensity exercise before and after their acute coronary syndrome diagnosis had a 13% lower risk of cardiovascular events compared to the group that did no exercise at all. Moderate-intensity exercises include brisk walking, cycling, or light jogging for at least 30 minutes once a week.
The group that began exercising after their diagnosis had a 9% lower risk of cardiovascular events compared to those who did not exercise at all. This demonstrates that beginning exercise after diagnosis, even if one did not exercise previously, can aid in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Conversely, the group that stopped exercising after diagnosis had a cardiovascular event risk similar to those who did not exercise at all, indicating that discontinuing exercise can elevate risk levels to those of non-exercisers.
Professor Kwon Joon-gyo of Seoul Asan Medical Center stated, “Even after being diagnosed with myocardial infarction or angina, consistent appropriate exercise has been proven effective in preventing the recurrence of cardiovascular diseases.” He emphasized, “Avoid excessive and vigorous exercise, and consult with a specialist to develop a tailored exercise plan based on age and the severity of the condition.”
The findings of this study were recently published in the international academic journal, the British Journal of Sports Medicine (Impact Factor: 11.8).