Faculty Collaboration Database

Cardiac rehabilitation patient and organizational factors: what keeps patients in programs? J Am Heart Assoc 2013 Oct 21;2(5):e000418

Date

10/23/2013

Pubmed ID

24145743

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3835256

DOI

10.1161/JAHA.113.000418

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84891722186 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   60 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite documented benefits of cardiac rehabilitation, adherence to programs is suboptimal with an average dropout rate of between 24% and 50%. The goal of this study was to identify organizational and patient factors associated with cardiac rehabilitation adherence.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Facilities of the Wisconsin Cardiac Rehabilitation Outcomes Registry Project (N = 38) were surveyed and records of 4412 enrolled patients were analyzed. Generalized estimating equations were used to account for clustering of patients within facilities. The results show that organizational factors associated with significantly increased adherence were relaxation training and diet classes (group and individual formats) and group-based psychological counseling, medication counseling, and lifestyle modification, the medical director's presence in the cardiac rehabilitation activity area for ≥ 15 min/week, assessment of patient satisfaction, adequate space, and adequate equipment. Patient factors associated with significantly increased adherence were aged ≥ 65 years, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) high-risk category, having received coronary artery bypass grafting, and diabetes disease. Non-white race was negatively associated with adherence. There was no significant gender difference in adherence. None of the baseline patient clinical profiles were associated with adherence including body mass index, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS: Factors associated with adherence to cardiac rehabilitation included both organizational and patient factors. Modifiable organizational factors may help directors of cardiac rehabilitation programs improve patient adherence to this beneficial program.

Author List

Turk-Adawi KI, Oldridge NB, Tarima SS, Stason WB, Shepard DS

Author

Sergey S. Tarima PhD Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Coronary Disease
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Compliance
Rehabilitation Centers