Referring people to specialist rehabilitation programs after a cardiac event may reduce their chances of readmission to hospital and reduce their risk of death, according to new research from Flinders University. However, improvements are needed to ensure patient participation.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs improve a patient’s overall heart health by combining support from medical professionals, exercise, and education with the goal of limiting the psychological and physiological stress associated with cardiovascular disease. It is intended to.

“To our knowledge, this study is the largest and most comprehensive analysis of the clinical outcomes of CR programs in Australia to date,” said study lead author Professor Robin Clark from Flinders University’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences. . Adelaide Southern Regional Health Network Nursing and Midwifery Research.

“While we have found that CR programs have significant benefits in reducing hospitalizations and deaths, their full potential is not being exploited, with very few patients being referred to the programs, and waiting times and other It creates a barrier, which means many people are not able to take full advantage of the program.”

It was published in the magazine heart, lungs, circulationThe study looked at 84,064 patients admitted to public hospitals in South Australia between 2016 and 2021 with heart conditions such as myocardial infarction (heart attack), chronic heart disease, arrhythmia or pacemaker fitting. investigated.

One-third of eligible participants were subsequently referred to cardiac rehabilitation, and 36% of referred participants started the program. Once initiated, completion rates were high, with nearly 78% of patients completing the program.

“Our analysis shows that compared to those who did not undergo the program at all, those who completed the program were 38 more likely to die or be readmitted for a heart-related problem within the subsequent 12 months. % lower and the results were similar over the subsequent three years.”Referrals were similar,” says lead author Dr. Aline Bereigori, a physician and senior research fellow at Flinders University’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

“Previous studies have shown the benefits of CR, and our study is no exception, but it also highlights how underutilized the program really is,” Dr. Bereigori says.

The review found that while women, older people, or patients with other illnesses such as cancer, stroke or obesity were less likely to be referred, depression and long waiting times led to more patients starting the program. It has been shown that this is hindering the

However, the authors found that delivering the program via telehealth, often to people in rural and remote areas, was strongly associated with higher completion rates.

“Our findings highlight the important role of cardiac rehabilitation in reducing mortality and cardiovascular readmissions. We can significantly improve cardiovascular disease outcomes nationally,” Professor Clark said.

“Quality improvement efforts will focus on increasing CR referrals, implementing automated systems, addressing barriers to women’s participation, enhancing access to telehealth services, and reducing wait times to increase program completion rates.” It should be placed.”