Fig. 1

Study flow chart. Of the 2,140 initial CAD patients screened, 361 met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled, and 174 completed the study protocol. The study population comprised 86 diabetic and 88 nondiabetic patients. CAD = coronary artery disease; CKD = chronic kidney disease; CVA = cerebrovascular accident; ECG = electrocardiogram; EF = ejection fraction; ET = exercise test; DM = diabetes mellitus; IP = ischemic preconditioning; SET = sequential exercise test (s)