Rehabilitation and Therapy Cardiac Rehabilitation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which risk stratification system is most commonly used to classify cardiac rehabilitation patients into low, moderate, or high risk?
- ABCD2 score
- American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) risk stratification (Correct answer)
- CHADS2 score
- Wells criteria
Correct answer: American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) risk stratification
The AACVPR risk stratification system classifies patients as low, moderate, or high risk based on clinical characteristics, guiding the level of supervision needed during rehabilitation.
Question 2: A patient would be classified as HIGH risk in cardiac rehabilitation if they have which of the following?
- Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than 50%
- Absence of complex ventricular arrhythmias during exercise
- LVEF less than 40% (Correct answer)
- No significant ST depression during exercise testing
Correct answer: LVEF less than 40%
An LVEF < 40% indicates significant left ventricular dysfunction, placing a patient in the high-risk category and requiring closer supervision during cardiac rehabilitation exercise.
Question 3: Which set of vital signs should be monitored before, during, and after each exercise session in cardiac rehabilitation?
- Blood glucose and body temperature
- Blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation (Correct answer)
- Respiratory rate and pain score only
- Weight and body temperature
Correct answer: Blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation
Monitoring blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation at each stage of exercise ensures patient safety and tracks the cardiovascular and respiratory response to exercise.
Question 4: The 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is used in cardiac rehabilitation primarily to assess which of the following?
- Cognitive function and attention span
- Upper extremity strength and grip
- Functional exercise capacity (Correct answer)
- Flexibility and static balance
Correct answer: Functional exercise capacity
The 6MWT measures functional exercise capacity by determining how far a patient can walk in 6 minutes, reflecting real-world cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness.
Question 5: Which finding during a cardiac rehabilitation exercise session warrants immediate termination of the session?
- Mild fatigue with an RPE of 11 on the Borg scale
- Heart rate increase of 20 bpm from resting baseline
- Chest pain or ST segment changes greater than 2 mm (Correct answer)
- Blood pressure rising to 140/90 mmHg during moderate exercise
Correct answer: Chest pain or ST segment changes greater than 2 mm
Chest pain or significant ST segment changes (> 2 mm) indicate possible myocardial ischemia and require immediate cessation of exercise and medical evaluation.
Question 6: Which of the following is a core component of risk factor management in cardiac rehabilitation?
- Pharmacological stress testing as the sole intervention
- Smoking cessation counseling (Correct answer)
- Surgical intervention planning
- Continuous cardiac monitoring for the rest of the patient's life
Correct answer: Smoking cessation counseling
Smoking cessation counseling is a core component of cardiac rehab risk factor management because smoking significantly increases the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events.
Question 7: In cardiac rehabilitation, what does a MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) value measure?
- The electrical activity of the heart per minute
- Energy expenditure relative to resting metabolic rate (Correct answer)
- Cardiac output at maximum effort
- Blood oxygen binding capacity
Correct answer: Energy expenditure relative to resting metabolic rate
METs express energy expenditure as a multiple of resting metabolic rate (1 MET), allowing activities to be classified and exercise prescriptions to be standardized across patients.
Rehabilitation and Therapy Cardiac Rehabilitation 2
Which risk stratification system is most commonly used to classify cardiac rehabilitation patients into low, moderate, or high risk?