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Cardiac rehabilitation in the United Kingdom. How complete is the provision?
H J Bethell1, S C Turner, J A Evans
1Basingstoke & Alton Cardiac Rehabilitation Center, Chawton Park Road, Alton, GU34 1RQ, England, UK.
Insights
This study surveyed UK cardiac rehabilitation (CR) units, finding that 14-23% of myocardial infarction patients, 33-56% of CABG patients, and 6-10% of PTCA patients enroll in CR programs.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is crucial for patient recovery.
- Understanding the current landscape of CR services in the UK is essential for service planning and improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated overview of UK cardiac rehabilitation units.
- To detail the staffing, services offered, patient demographics, and diagnoses treated within these units.
- To assess the enrollment rates of specific patient groups into CR programs.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was distributed to identify and gather data from UK CR centers.
- Data collected included center operational status, staff disciplines, patient numbers and diagnoses, and outcome measurement practices.
- Response rates and data completeness were analyzed to determine the scope of findings.
Main Results:
- 286 CR centers were identified, with 236 responding to the survey.
- 171 centers provided data on patient numbers and diagnoses, treating a total of 32,499 patients.
- The primary patient diagnoses were myocardial infarction (63%), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (25%), and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (4%).
- Exercise testing was performed pre- and post-program by 34% of responders, and 66% measured patient outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The study estimates that 14-23% of myocardial infarction patients, 33-56% of CABG patients, and 6-10% of PTCA patients in the UK are enrolled in CR programs.
- These figures highlight potential gaps in CR service accessibility and uptake for different cardiac patient populations.
- The findings underscore the need for continued monitoring and potential expansion of CR services nationwide.
Purpose:
To bring up-to-date information about all the cardiac rehabilitation (CR) units in the UK, including their staffing and the services they offer, and to determine the numbers and diagnoses of the patients they treat.
Methods:
Questionnaire survey to establish the continued functioning of the centers, the disciplines of their staff, the number of patients treated, their diagnoses, and the outcomes measured.
Results:
286 centers were identified. Of the 236 who returned their questionnaires, 171 (72%) gave figures of the numbers and diagnoses of their patients. The median number treated in the different programs was 150, with a total of 32,499 patients. Of those, 63% were recovering from myocardial infarction, 25% from coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and 4% from percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Twenty-four percent of patients were female, 87% were between the ages of 40 and 74, and 10% were older than 75. Of the responders, 80 (34%) performed an exercise test both before and after the course. Of the 171 who gave figures, 113 (66%) measured outcomes.
Conclusions:
In the UK, between 14% and 23% of infarct patients, between 33% and 56% of CABG patients, and between 6% and 10% of PTCA patients are enrolled into CR programs.