What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Cardiovascular diseases (n=27742). Intervention: Time period (2001-2025) vs. Earlier time periods. Primary outcome: Trends in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, smoking status, and mental health scores (p=<0.001).

What does this research mean for the field?

Over a 25-year period, patients enrolling in cardiac rehabilitation showed an overall increase in physical activity and a decrease in moderate-to-severe anxiety and depression, alongside a modest increase in smoking prevalence. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Examine 25-year trends in mental health and behavioural risk factors among participants of cardiac rehabilitation.

June 12, 2026European Journal of Preventive CardiologyOpen Access

Trends in mental health and behavioural risk factors of patients in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation over 25 years: a retrospective cohort study

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Over 25 years, cardiac rehabilitation participants showed increased median physical activity (150 to 180 mins/week) and decreased moderate/severe anxiety (14% to 10%, P<0.001).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Over a 25-year period, patients enrolling in cardiac rehabilitation showed an overall increase in physical activity and a decrease in moderate-to-severe anxiety and depression, alongside a modest increase in smoking prevalence. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

Examine 25-year trends in mental health and behavioural risk factors among participants of cardiac rehabilitation.

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Key result

Cardiac rehabilitation participants show ~29% less moderate-to-severe anxiety and increased physical activity over time.

P<0.001
n=27,742

Why the study?

Behavioral risk factors and mental health disorders are prevalent and challenging in cardiac rehabilitation, but changes in these risk factors among participants over time remain underexplored.

Population

27,742 patients with CVD enrolled in a CR program in Canada

Comparison

Participants grouped across 5-year enrollment intervals from 2001 to 2025

Design

Observational retrospective cohort study

Authors

AVA Marques VieiraUniversity of Ottawa MHM HausenUniversity of Ottawa JHJ HarrisUniversity of Ottawa

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

High non-smoker prevalence in cardiac rehab supports sustained cessation focus; leaves open causal links to activity and mood trends.

Key Points

Examine 25-year trends in mental health and behavioural risk factors among participants of cardiac rehabilitation.
Observational retrospective cohort study of patients enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program from 2001 to 2025.
Analysis of self-reported physical activity, smoking status, and mental health scores using established scales (HADS, GAD-7, PHQ-9).
Statistical comparisons via one-way ANOVA and Chi-square analyses.
Median moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels decreased from 150 minutes/week (2001-2005) to 90 minutes/week (2016-2020) but increased to 180 minutes/week (2021-2025, p<0.001).
Moderate/severe anxiety decreased from 14% (2001-2015) to 10% (2021-2025, p<0.001).
Depression scores improved, with normal range scores increasing, and moderate/severe depression decreasing to 4.6% (2021-2025, p<0.001).

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=27,742)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Population

27,742 patients (mean age 62 years, 29.5% women) with cardiovascular disease enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program between 2001 and 2025.

Exposure

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation over 25 years (grouped into 5-year enrollment intervals)

Outcome

Trends in mental health (HADS, GAD-7, PHQ-9 scores) and behavioural risk factors (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, smoking status)patient reported

Main Result

p-value: p=<0.001

Over 25 years, cardiac rehabilitation participants in Canada showed encouraging recent improvements in physical activity and mental health, though smoking prevalence slightly increased.

Cite This Study

Vieira et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Cardiovascular diseases (n=27,742). Time period (2001-2025) vs. Earlier time periods was evaluated on Trends in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, smoking status, and mental health scores (p=<0.001). Over 25 years, cardiac rehabilitation participants showed increased median physical activity (150 to 180 mins/week) and decreased moderate/severe anxiety (14% to 10%, P<0.001).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2bd11d6550ea4541ffe8ba https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwag249.327

Topics

Cardiac Rehabilitation and Lifestyle Interventions

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Trends in mental health and behavioural risk factors of patients in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation over 25 years: a retrospective cohort study

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Cite This Study

Topics

Trends in mental health and behavioural risk factors of patients in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation over 25 years: a retrospective cohort study

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Topics

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