Between 1996 and 2015, cardiac rehabilitation participants became older (mean age 60.7 to 64.2 years), more obese (33.2% to 39.6%), and had higher rates of hypertension and diabetes.
Observational (n=5,396)
Over a 20-year period, patients entering cardiac rehabilitation have become older, more obese, and have a higher prevalence of comorbidities, highlighting the need to tailor interventions to a higher-risk population.
PURPOSE: Clinical interventions in programs such as cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are guided by clinical characteristics of participating patients. This study describes changes in CR participant characteristics over 20 yr. METHODS: To examine changes in patient characteristics over time, we analyzed data from 1996 to 2015 (n = 5396) garnered from a systematically and prospectively gathered database. Linear, logistic, multinomial logistic or negative binomial regression was used, as appropriate. Effects of sex and index diagnosis were considered both as interactions and as additive effects. RESULTS: Analyses revealed that mean age increased (from 60.7 to 64.2 yr), enrollment of women increased (from 26.8% to 29.6%), and index diagnosis has shifted; coronary artery bypass surgery decreased (from 37.2% to 21.6%), whereas heart valve repair/replacement increased (from 0% to 10.6%). Risk factors also shifted with increases in body mass index (28.7 vs 29.6 kg/m), obesity (from 33.2% to 39.6%), hypertension (from 51% to 62.5%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (from 17.3% to 21.7%), and those reporting current smoking (from 6.6% to 8.4%). Directly measured peak aerobic capacity remained relatively stable throughout. The proportion of patients on statin therapy increased from 63.6% to 98.9%, coinciding with significant improvements in lipid levels. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with 1996, participants entering CR in 2015 were older, more overweight, and had a higher prevalence of coronary risk factors. Lipid values improved substantially concurrent with increased statin use. While the percentage of female participants increased, they continue to be underrepresented. Patients with heart valve repair/replacement now constitute 10.6% of the patients enrolled. Clinical programs need to recognize changing characteristics of attendees to best tailor interventions.
Gaalema et al. (Mon,) conducted a observational in Cardiac rehabilitation (n=5,396). Time period (2015 vs 1996) vs. Historical cohort (1996) was evaluated on Changes in patient characteristics over time. Between 1996 and 2015, cardiac rehabilitation participants became older (mean age 60.7 to 64.2 years), more obese (33.2% to 39.6%), and had higher rates of hypertension and diabetes.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: