Autonomic and Metabolic Response to Cardiac Rehabilitation After Acute Myocardial Infarction

Ischemic heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the western world. The beneficial effects of cardiac rehabilitation on the evolution of ischemic heart disease are known, but the effects of rehabilitation on the metabolic processes of the patients are so far poorly understood. Metabolomics is the qualitative/quantitative analysis of the body's metabolic responses to pathophysiological stimuli or genetic alterations. Metabolic changes caused by physical activity have been demonstrated in obese and diabetic patients and in athletes. Aim of the study is to evaluate whether cardiac rehabilitation after a first myocardial infarction induces changes in the metabolic state of patients, and whether these changes may be related with changes in the usual risk factors (i.e. glyco-lipidic profile, natriuretic peptides, homocysteine).