Table 2 Exclusion criteria for the cardiac rehabilitation program

∙ Cognitive impairment or mental disorder identified by MMSE score < 24

∙ Unstable angina or onset of myocardial infarction within < 2 weeks

∙ Uncontrolled serious arrhythmia

∙ Uncontrolled hypertension (resting systolic blood pressure > 160 mmHg or resting diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg)

∙ Cardiac function class IV

∙ Coronary heart disease accompanied by acute complications (coronary artery dissection, ventricular aneurysm, large area of myocardial infarction associated with shock, acute vascular occlusion including stent thrombosis) and high risk of cardiovascular events posed by rehabilitation exercise

∙ Active pericarditis or myocarditis, serious infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, moderate to serious aortic stenosis, resting heart rate after drug control > 100 times/min

∙ New deep vein thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, aortic dissection or aneurysm in other parts of the body, lower limb occlusive atherosclerosis

∙ Inability to tolerate exercise due to fracture, arthritis or muscle pain

∙ Abnormal electrolytes such as potassium, sodium or calcium

∙ Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism at the time of recruitment