While overall women did not perceive a greater total number of barriers to cardiac rehabilitation participation than men (p=0.46), female non-participants reported significantly greater barriers regarding transportation, family responsibilities, and comorbidities.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,496)
Yes
Are there sex differences in perceived barriers to cardiac rehabilitation participation among cardiac outpatients?
Women and men report a similar total number of barriers to cardiac rehabilitation, but the specific barriers differ significantly, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address transportation, family responsibilities, and exercise perceptions in women.
Absolute Event Rate: 2.57% vs 2.52%
p-value: p=0.46
BACKGROUND: Despite its proven benefits and need, women are significantly less likely than men to participate in and complete cardiac rehabilitation (CR). The purpose of this study was to quantitatively investigate sex differences in CR barriers by participation status. METHODS: Cardiac outpatients (1496, 430 female, 28.7%) of 97 cardiologists completed a mailed survey to discern CR participation. Respondents were asked to rate 19 CR barriers on a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Five hundred twenty-nine (43%) respondents self-reported participating in CR, with men being more likely to participate (p < 0.05). There was no significant sex difference in total number of CR barriers, but differences in individual barriers were found. For CR participants, t tests revealed significant sex differences in the perception of exercise as tiring or painful (p = 0.042) and work responsibilities (p = 0.013). For CR nonparticipants, women rated the following barriers as greater than men: transportation (p = 0.025), family responsibilities (p = 0.039), lack of CR awareness (p = 0.036), experiencing exercise as tiring or painful (p = 0.002), and comorbidities (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, women do not perceive greater barriers to CR participation than men, but the nature of their barriers differs, particularly among nonparticipants. Beliefs about the value of CR, awareness, and exercise parameters are all modifiable barriers that should be addressed among women.
Grace et al. (Sun,) conducted a cross-sectional in Coronary artery disease (n=1,496). Female sex vs. Male sex was evaluated on Total number of cardiac rehabilitation barriers (p=0.46). While overall women did not perceive a greater total number of barriers to cardiac rehabilitation participation than men (p=0.46), female non-participants reported significantly greater barriers regarding transportation, family responsibilities, and comorbidities.