An 8-week culturally appropriate cardiac rehabilitation program significantly increased 6-minute walk distance (296 to 345 m; P<0.01) and reduced body mass index, waist girth, and blood pressure.
Observational (n=28)
No
Does a culturally appropriate cardiac rehabilitation program improve cardiovascular risk factors and functional capacity in Aboriginal Australians with or at risk of cardiovascular disease?
A culturally appropriate, community-based cardiac rehabilitation program significantly improved cardiovascular risk factors and functional capacity in Aboriginal Australians.
Absolute Event Rate: 345% vs 296%
p-value: p=<0.01
Objective. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading disease burden in Aboriginal Australians, but culturally appropriate cardiac rehabilitation programs are lacking. We evaluated the uptake and effects on lifestyle, and cardiovascular risk factors, of cardiac rehabilitation at an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS). Methods. The program involved weekly exercise and education sessions (through ‘yarning’) for Aboriginal people with or at risk of CVD. Participants’ perceptions of the program and the impact on risk factors were evaluated following 8 weeks of attendance. Results. In twenty-eight participants (20 females) who completed 8 weeks of sessions, body mass index (34.0 ± 5.1 v. 33.3 ± 5.2 kg m–2; P 0.05), waist girth (113 ± 14 v. 109 ± 13 cm; P 0.01) and blood pressure (135/78 ± 20/12 v. 120/72 ± 16/5 mmHg; P 0.05) decreased and 6- min walk distance increased (296 ± 115 v. 345 ± 135 m; P 0.01). ‘Yarning’ helped identify and address a range of chronic health issues including medication compliance, risk factor review and chest pain management. Conclusions. AMS-based cardiac rehabilitation was well attended, and improved cardiovascular risk factors and health management. An AMS is an ideal location for managing cardiovascular health and provides a setting conducive to addressing a broad range of chronic conditions. What is known about the topic? Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Aboriginal Australians, but less than 5% of eligible Aboriginal people attend hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation. What does this paper add? This is the first study to describe a culturally appropriate cardiac rehabilitation program conducted in a metropolitan Aboriginal Medical Service. It provides a detailed account of the program’s components and its effects on physical and psychosocial determinants of cardiovascular health in participants. What are the implications for practitioners? Health management programs similar to the one evaluated in this study could be developed to suit the specific needs of other Indigenous communities around Australia to address a range of chronic conditions.
Dimer et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Cardiovascular disease (CVD) or at risk of CVD (n=28). Culturally appropriate cardiac rehabilitation program vs. Baseline was evaluated on 6-min walk distance (m) (p=<0.01). An 8-week culturally appropriate cardiac rehabilitation program significantly increased 6-minute walk distance (296 to 345 m; P<0.01) and reduced body mass index, waist girth, and blood pressure.
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