Abstract

To determine the influence of exercise training on smoking after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), smoking rates in 42 pre-AMI smokers assigned to exercise training were compared with 26 pre-AMI smokers assigned to no training. Exercise traing occurred 3-26 weeks after AMI. The increase in functional capacity in 3-26 wekks was significantly greater in training than in non-training patients: 1.8 vs. 1.2 METs respectively (p < 0.05). Adherence to exercise training was higher in non-smokers and former smokers than in those who continued to smoke: 89 and 88 vs. 80 respectively (NS). The prevalence of smoking 6 months post-AMI was lower in training than in non-training patients: 31 vs. 39 respectively (NS). Plasma thiocyanates collected on a random sample of 42 patients suggested that 19 of patients who are smoking after MI fail to report doing so. Selfreported cigarette consumption at 28 weeks was half as great in training as in non-training patients: 11 +/- 7 vs. 22 +/- 16 cigarettes per day (p < 0.03). Firm advice to stop smoking followed by medically supervised exercise training with frequent followup reduces selfreported cigarette consumption in patients after AMI. Verf.-Referat