Medically treated patients in cardiac rehabilitation had significantly higher rates of angina pectoris (34% vs 19%) and hypotension (9% vs 4%) compared to surgically treated patients.
Observational (n=365)
Does medical versus surgical treatment affect the incidence of medical problems in patients undergoing a 12-week outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program?
Structured surveillance during early outpatient cardiac rehabilitation is valuable for detecting substantial medical problems, which differ in prevalence between medically and surgically treated patients.
Absolute Event Rate: 34% vs 19%
This study compared medical problems experienced by 365 medically and surgically treated patients during participation in a 12-week outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program. The following medical problems differed significantly for the medical and surgical patients, respectively: angina pectoris, 34% versus 19% hypotension, 9% versus 4% and low-back complaints, 13% versus 6%. Other prevalent medical problems that were not significant between groups were complex arrhythmias, 33% versus 40% lightheadedness, 20% versus 24% dyspnea, 23% versus 19% and ST-segment changes, 14% versus 9 %. Although the overall occurrence of arrhythmias was not different between groups, the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia was significantly higher in the surgical group (12% vs 4%). Not significantly different between the medical and surgical patients respectively were supra-ventricular arrhythmias (13% vs 19%), ventricular arrhythmias (31% vs 30%), frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs 18% vs 20%), multifocal PVCs (19% vs 19%), and couplets (19% vs 22%). In addition, surgical patients showed an 18% incidence of incisional discomfort/pain and a 3% incidence of sternal movement. Physician referrals for medical problems associated with surveillance in the cardiac rehabilitation program were similar for both groups (18% vs 22%) and more frequent in the first month. These referrals resulted in a 12% hospitalization rate for further study or surgery. The results indicate a substantial prevalence of medical problems in medical and surgical patients and these problems are readily detected through structured cardiac rehabilitation during the first 12 weeks postdischarge from a cardiac event or surgery. Furthermore, referral to a physician after detection of these problems may lead to better patient care.
Sennett et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Post-cardiac event or surgery (n=365). Medical treatment vs. Surgical treatment was evaluated on Angina pectoris. Medically treated patients in cardiac rehabilitation had significantly higher rates of angina pectoris (34% vs 19%) and hypotension (9% vs 4%) compared to surgically treated patients.