Key result
A post-pandemic hybrid cardiac rehabilitation redesign significantly reduced hospital discharge to CR contact time (mean 5.39 days, p=0.001) and time spent in CR (41.33 days, p=0.001).
Why the study?
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted cardiac rehabilitation services in the UK, requiring adaptations in delivery and remote interventions whose effects on efficiency needed evaluation.
Does a hybrid redesign of cardiac rehabilitation post-COVID-19 improve delivery efficiency and patient engagement compared to pre-pandemic models?
Cohort (n=614)
No
Does a hybrid redesign of cardiac rehabilitation post-COVID-19 improve delivery efficiency and patient engagement compared to pre-pandemic models?
p-value: p=0.001
A hybrid cardiac rehabilitation program implemented post-COVID-19 effectively reduced wait times and improved patient engagement compared to traditional pre-pandemic models.
The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic brought disruption to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) services in the UK, requiring innovation and use of remote interventions. This retrospective longitudinal study compares single-centre CR service data across three time periods: 'pre' (June 2019 to December 2019), 'during' (January 2020 to May 2020) and 'post' (June 2020 to December 2020), evaluating adaptations in programme delivery and subsequent effect on efficiency. There were 614 patients (72.7% male) identified between June 2019 and December 2020. Eligible CR referrals reduced 30.3% and encountered >50% decrease in engagement 'during' the pandemic, compared with 'pre' pandemic. The 'post' pandemic hybrid redesign led to a significant reduction in hospital discharge to CR contact (mean 5.39 days, p=0.001), and time spent in CR (41.33 days, p=0.001) when compared with 'pre' and 'during' figures. CR engagement significantly increased 'post' pandemic for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)/non-STEMI (NSTEMI)/acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (56%, p=0.02) and 'post' cardiac surgery (76%, p=0.015). Referrals to cardiac psychology increased >50% 'post' pandemic (7.8%, p=0.038). A 'post' pandemic hybrid CR programme is effective at reducing wait times, increasing engagement and reducing time to completion of CR, compared with 'pre' and 'during' pandemic figures. A significant increase in cardiac psychology referrals 'post' pandemic highlights the importance of psychology support within CR.
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Kilner et al. (2023) conducted a cohort in Cardiac rehabilitation (n=614). Post-pandemic hybrid cardiac rehabilitation redesign vs. Pre-pandemic and during-pandemic cardiac rehabilitation models was evaluated on Hospital discharge to CR contact time (p=0.001). A post-pandemic hybrid cardiac rehabilitation redesign significantly reduced hospital discharge to CR contact time (mean 5.39 days, p=0.001) and time spent in CR (41.33 days, p=0.001).
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