Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation participation remained low (1.7% to 9.4% depending on disease), with older age, multi-comorbidity, and low institutional capacity contributing to lower rates.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,215,914)
Yes
Despite increasing trends, outpatient cardiac rehabilitation participation remains very low in Japan, particularly among older patients and those with heart failure or peripheral artery disease.
BACKGROUND: Few studies have comprehensively evaluated the trends and factors associated with CR participation across major cardiovascular diseases in Japan. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study performed a nationwide cross-sectional study using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan and the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases and the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. This study described the nationwide trends and evaluated patient- and hospital-level associated factors of CR participation for patients with acute heart failure (AHF), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), acute aortic dissection (AAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and after cardiovascular surgery using mixed-effect logistic regression analysis. Although the annual number of patients who underwent CR has increased during the study period, the total number of patients participating in outpatient CR was lower than that of inpatient CR. The outpatient CR participation rate was lower for patients with AHF (3.5%), AAD (3.2%), and PAD (1.7%), compared with ACS (7.9%) and after surgery (9.4%). Age, sex, body mass index, Barthel index, Charlson comorbidity index, and institutional capacity were identified as significant associated factors of CR participation in inpatient and outpatient settings. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in outpatient CR was still low, and higher age, multi-comorbidity, and low institutional capacity contributed to the lower outpatient CR participation rate. Identification of the associated factors may help cardiologists to increase CR participation.
Kanaoka et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Major cardiovascular diseases (ACS, acute heart failure, acute aortic dissection, peripheral artery disease, post-cardiovascular surgery) (n=1,215,914). Patient and institutional characteristics vs. Reference characteristics was evaluated on Participation rate in inpatient and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation participation remained low (1.7% to 9.4% depending on disease), with older age, multi-comorbidity, and low institutional capacity contributing to lower rates.