Impact of ischemic heart disease and cardiac rehabilitation on cerebrovascular compliance

Post-cardiac event cognitive impairment is common and exercise-based rehabilitation may be an effective intervention to mitigate cognitive decline. Microvascular damage due to high blood pressure pulsatility entering the brain is the putative mechanism of vascular dementia. Whether patients with ischemic heart disease exhibit lower cerebrovascular compliance, and if cardiac rehabilitation can improve cerebrovascular compliance is unknown. We observed that patients with ischemic heart disease have paradoxically higher cerebrovascular compliance, which is not affected by cardiac rehabilitation.

Impact of ischemic heart disease and cardiac rehabilitation on cerebrovascular compliance Journal Articles