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Cardiac rehabilitation in the elderly
S K Pasquali1, K P Alexander, E D Peterson
1Outcomes Research and Assessment Group, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA.
American Heart Journal
|October 31, 2001
Summary
Cardiac rehabilitation improves outcomes for elderly patients, showing benefits similar to younger individuals. However, low enrollment rates highlight the need for better referral strategies to increase participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs for older adults.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Rehabilitation
- Public Health
Background:
- Elderly patients represent the majority of cardiac admissions and procedures.
- Cardiac rehabilitation studies have historically focused on younger populations.
- Recent attention is being given to cardiac rehabilitation effectiveness in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on cardiac rehabilitation in the elderly.
- To compare outcomes between elderly and younger cardiac rehabilitation patients.
- To examine barriers to participation in cardiac rehabilitation among the elderly.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of studies on elderly cardiac rehabilitation.
- Analysis of methodological limitations in existing studies.
- Comparison of outcomes and examination of participation barriers.
Main Results:
- Existing studies, though often small, show consistent improvements in exercise capacity, cardiac risk factors, and quality of life for elderly patients.
- Benefits observed in elderly patients appear comparable to those in younger patients.
- Low participation rates among the elderly are primarily due to less aggressive referral practices.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac rehabilitation is associated with improved outcomes post-cardiac event across all age groups.
- Further research is warranted, but current evidence supports its efficacy in the elderly.
- Innovative strategies for recommendation and referral are crucial to increase enrollment rates among older adults.
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