Background

Non-compacted myocardium is a recently described cardiomyopathy. It can present itself at any age as different clinical entities, such as heart failure syndrome, arrhythmias, systemic embolism, or sudden death. Scientific evidence demonstrates a decrease in mortality in patients with heart failure who are admitted to cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of phase II cardiac rehabilitation programs in patients diagnosed with heart failure secondary to non-compacted myocardium.

Material and methods

An observational and retrospective study was performed, reviewing the cases diagnosed with non-compacted myocardium registered in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Service until 2016.

Results

Five patients with a mean age of 42 ± 10.5 years were included, with a female majority. At the end of the phase II cardiac rehabilitation program, all the patients presented decreased dyspnea, edema and plethora (100%, p = 0.063); a reduction in systolic blood pressure, mean: 4.8 mmHg, p = 0.434; an increase of maximum heart rate, average of 10 beats per minute, p = 0.178. No changes were observed in the Mets or in the stress test time.

Conclusions

Cardiac rehabilitation represents an alternative in the management of heart failure secondary to non-compacted myocardium.