Background: Physical inactivity is a key risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). This systematic review explores the role of exercise in cardiac rehabilitation for CHD patients, emphasizing the integration of nuclear stress tests and tumor imaging techniques to assess heart function.


Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted, analyzing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) indexed in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, and EMBASE. Studies were selected based on criteria related to exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation, including outcomes such as cardiovascular mortality, hospitalization, and quality of life. Imaging methods, such as nuclear stress tests and tumor imaging, were also considered. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.


Results: Five RCTs were included in the final analysis. The reviewed literature consistently reported that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation led to reductions in cardiovascular mortality and hospital admissions, alongside notable improvements in patient quality of life. The inclusion of nuclear stress tests was found to improve diagnostic accuracy for identifying myocardial ischemia and assessing heart function during exercise. Tumor imaging techniques were successfully used to identify cardiac tumors and monitor post-surgical heart function.


Conclusion: This systematic review supports the integration of exercise as a core component of cardiac rehabilitation programs for CHD patients. The findings indicate significant benefits in reducing cardiovascular mortality and improving quality of life. The use of nuclear stress tests and tumor imaging techniques enhances the precision of rehabilitation strategies, offering a more personalized approach to care.