Exercise capacity is known to be an important prognostic factor in patients with cardiovascular disease, particularly after myocardial infarction (MI). Impaired exercise capacity may result from several mechanisms including residual ischemia, left ventricular dysfunction, impaired peripheral adaptation, reduced heart rate variability to exercise, inflammatory and others factors. The aim of the study was to evaluate the factors affecting improvement in exercise capacity in patients after MI during early short-term exercise – based rehabilitation program.

Keywords: exercise capacity, left ventricular function, heart rate variability, cardiac rehabilitation