Background: Although participation in centre-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is known to reduce morbidity and mortality but the participation rates of coronary artery patients are low. Therefore, establishing alternative programs in this regard is important, and it seems that home-based exercise rehabilitation is one of the predominant alternatives. This study aimed to compare the effects of the home-based exercise rehabilitation and centre-based CR on lipid profiles of patients with coronary artery disease.

Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted on 40 patients (mean age, 59±6.28 years) in Isfahan cardiovascular research center in 2014. The participants were voluntarily divided into 3 groups: home-based exercise rehabilitation, centre-based CR and control. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) were measured at baseline and after 2 months of CR.

Results: After 2 months of CR, levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and the ratio of LDL/HDL and cholesterol/HDL were significantly improved in both experimental groups. No significant difference was observed between the home-based exercise and centre-based CR programs in all indices.

Conclusion: Both home-based exercise rehabilitation and centre-based CR can improve the lipid profiles in patients with coronary artery disease. Thus, it can be a modern approach to increase the participation of patients, reduce the costs and the current restrictions in our country to fulfill the patients’ needs.