Factors associated with referral to outpatient cardiac rehabilitation services

Although practice guidelines and policy statements for cardiac rehabilitation recommend that it be offered to all patients with cardiovascular disease, the participation rates in most Western countries are low.

This study aimed to determine the factors associated with referral to outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia.

The study sample comprised 1933 patients discharged from public hospitals in the Hunter region between March 1, 1998 and February 28, 1999 who were eligible for cardiac rehabilitation, and for inclusion on the Hunter Area Heart and Stroke Register (the Register). Data were obtained from the Register database (gender, age, clinical information) and via a self-completed questionnaire eliciting referral, sociodemographic, and cardiovascular disease risk factor information. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the factors independently associated with referral.

: Of the respondents (1202/1933), 41% (493/1202; 95% confidence interval, 38-44%) reported that they had been referred to outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. The factors independently associated with referral were age younger than 65 years, previous participation in an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program, admission to a hospital that provides outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, a discharge diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, and coronary artery bypass surgery.

Younger age, previous participation in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, admission to a hospital that provides outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, a discharge diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, and coronary artery bypass surgery were associated with referral to cardiac rehabilitation. Research testing strategies designed to increase cardiac rehabilitation referral rates are needed and could include testing the potential role of modern quality management methods.