Vermeulen 1983.

Methods	Study design: Single centre RCT Country: Netherlands Dates patients recruited: NR Maximum follow up: 5 years Randomised 4 to 6 weeks post‐MI after ETT.
Participants	Inclusion criteria: Men (aged 40 to 55 years) who were hospitalised within 6 hours after onset of complaints of first myocardial infarction. Exclusion criteria: Combination of bundle branch block and anterior myocardial infarction N Randomised: total: 98; intervention: 47; comparator: 51 Diagnosis (% of pts): MI: 100% Age (mean ± SD): intervention: 49.4 ± 3.7; comparator: 49.1 ± 4.5 Percentage male: intervention: 100%; comparator: 100% Ethnicity: NR
Interventions	Intervention: The rehabilitation consisted of multidisciplinary intervention (physical, social, psychological). Components: exercise, psychochological support. Setting: Centre Aerobic exercise: Modality: NR Length of session: NR Frequency: NR Intensity: NR Resistance training included? NR Total duration: 6 ‐ 8 weeks. Co‐interventions: none described. Comparator: usual care. Co‐interventions: none described.
Outcomes	Mortality, non fatal MI.
Source of funding	Prevention Fund, The Hague.
Conflicts of interest	NR
Notes	Study authors conclude that cardiac rehab benefits patients after MI due to direct effect on myocardial perfusion and to lowering of cholesterol levels.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	"randomized"
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not reported.
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Blinding not described.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	No losses to follow up.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	All outcomes reported at all time points (although absolute values not always given).
Groups balanced at baseline	Unclear risk	Data given on age, Peak SGOT (U/L) and location of MI, only.
Intention‐to‐treat analysis conducted	Low risk	Yes.
Groups received same treatment (apart from the intervention)	High risk	“The rehabilitation took place at the Rehabilitation Institute Muiderpoort and consisted of multidisciplined intervention (physical, social, psychological). Other than the rehabilitation program, the medical treatment of the two groups was similar.”