January 1, 2013
View Full PaperCardiac Rehabilitation and Cardiovascular Disability
Key Result
Cardiac rehabilitation programs provide an ideal setting for comprehensive disability assessments and offer exercise training that can increase functional capacity in most patients.
Structured PICO
P
Population
Americans with cardiovascular disease applying for or receiving disability benefits (approximately 900,000 receiving payments and 145,000 adult claims processed annually by the SSA).
I
Intervention
Comprehensive disability assessment of functional capacity (aerobic capacity, muscle function, physical requirements of job tasks) and exercise training within cardiac rehabilitation programs.
Cardiac rehabilitation programs provide an ideal setting for comprehensive cardiovascular disability assessments and can improve functional capacity in patients.
Abstract
In Brief The Social Security Administration (SSA) oversees the disability determination process and the payment of disability benefits to Americans. According to recent SSA data, approximately 900 000 persons are receiving cardiovascular disability payments and about 145 000 adult claims for cardiovascular disability are processed by the SSA annually. An objective and comprehensive examination of functional capacity is an important part of the disability assessment process. This statement reviews various protocols for disability assessment of aerobic capacity, muscle function, and the physical requirements of job tasks. Cardiac rehabilitation programs are ideal settings for conducting comprehensive disability assessments of functional capacity in persons with cardiovascular disease. In addition, exercise training provided by cardiac rehabilitation programs can increase functional capacity in most patients. This statement reviews various protocols for a comprehensive disability assessment of aerobic capacity, muscle function, and the physical requirements of job tasks. Cardiac rehabilitation programs are ideal settings for conducting these assessments of functional capacity and, in addition, exercise training provided by these programs can increase functional capacity in most patients.