If the positive impact of cardiac rehabilitation on metabolic profile and exercise tolerance is well documented in the literature very few studies evaluated the impact of these rehabilitation programs on some dimensions of quality of life. To date, no study has documented the short-term effects of an ambulatory cardiac rehabilitation program on quality of life.

The main objective of this study was to determine if a short and ambulatory 4-week cardiac rehabilitation program could yield a positive impact on different quality of life parameters such as anxiety, depression, as well as physical and mental health.

It is a cohort study which was conducted at the Leopold Bellan hospital, cardiovascular rehabilitation unit. Patients consecutively referred to our institution after an acute cardiac event. It lasted 04 weeks and that included 20 educational and exercise sessions. Psychological wellbeing and quality of life evaluation was conducted by a psychologist using SF-12 questionnary and HAD test.

One hundred and eighty four cardiac patients, mean age 60.48±11.6, participated in this study. Analysing the scores obtained on the SF-12 questionnaire revealed an improvement of physical and mental components after ambulatory 4 weeks cardiac rehabilitation program. (P<0.001).

Furthermore, the HAD scale decreased significantly at the end of the cardiac rehabilitation program. (P<0.001).

A 4-week ambulatory cardiac rehabilitation program had a positive impact on quality of life and anxiety-depression. The quick efficacy reported by our study could be explained by the multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach (adapted physical activity sessions, personalized dietary follow-up, psychological and therapeutic care).