[Sex-specific predictors of utilization of cardiologic rehabilitation from the epidemiologic viewpoint]

Among men and women cardiovascular diseases are among the three main causes for early retirement and participation in rehabilitation programmes. Rehabilitation research has only recently taken notice of the potential effect of gender on the need and outcome of cardiac rehabilitation care. Findings from epidemiological studies suggest that sex differences exist at every stage of heart disease and therefore may also be important for the quality and quantity of gender specific rehabilitation needs. Based on results from epidemiological studies this article first describes some essential biomedical differences between men and women regarding coronary heart disease which should be taken into account when type and amount of rehabilitation programmes are discussed. Afterwards, some recent findings are presented which focus on gender specific aspects of the use and acceptance of rehabilitation procedures.