Comparison of Patient Outcomes Among Early and Late Admissions to Cardiac Rehabilitation

Abstract

Three-month and 6-month outcomes were compared between two groups of cardiac patients: 1) 23 patients entering cardiac rehabilitation within 6 months of heart attack or heart surgery and 2) 25 patients entering between 6 and 24 months of heart attack or heart surgery. The two groups were similar in demographic, anthropometric, and diagnostic measures; however, the early entrants had significantly lower blood pressures than did the late entrants. After 3 and 6 months, both groups significantly increased exercise capacity and lowered blood pressure. The early entrants also showed significant decreases in weight, while the late entrants did not. Between-group differences on outcomes were minimal. The results suggest that delaying entry into cardiac rehabilitation is associated with a return to pre-hospitalization habits (and thus, higher blood pressures) and less consistent weight loss after entry, and that late entries receive, significant health benefits from cardiac rehabilitation.