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A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
Factors predicting discontinuation of a hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation programme
Abbas Soleimani1, Ali Abbasi, Mostafa Nejatian
1Department of Cardiology, Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 14155-6559 Tehran, I.R. of Iran. soleimania@yahoo.com
Insights
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) dropout rates are high, with only 18.1% completing the program. Male gender, younger age, and lower education predict discontinuation, suggesting a need for targeted support.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is vital for coronary artery disease management.
- High rates of non-participation and non-completion limit CR effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and predictors of hospital-based CR program discontinuation.
- To compare baseline characteristics of CR completers versus dropouts.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1986 patients from a hospital-based CR program (Tehran Heart Centre, 2004-2006).
- Comparison of patients completing all 24 sessions versus those who dropped out.
Main Results:
- CR completion rate was 18.1% (24+ sessions).
- Predictors of dropout included male gender (OR 1.441), younger age (OR 0.979), and lower education (OR 0.412).
Conclusions:
- A high dropout rate was observed in this hospital-based CR program.
- Male, younger, and less educated patients were more likely to discontinue CR.
- Enhanced social support and educational interventions may improve CR adherence.
Background:
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes play an important role in the management of patients with coronary artery disease. However, a significant proportion of patients do not participate or do not complete CR.
Aim:
To asses the prevalence and predictors of discontinuation of a hospital-based CR programme and to investigate whether or not the completers and dropouts differed in relation to their baseline characteristics.
Methods:
Data used for analysis were from a hospital-based CR programme involving 1986 discharged patients at Tehran Heart Centre between July 2004 and January 2006. The patients who completed all 24 sessions of the CR programme were compared with the dropouts.
Results:
The CR completion rate was 18.1% (average of 11.4+/-8.1, ranging from 1 to 78 sessions) including patients who completed 24 (n=284) or more sessions (n=77) of the CR programme. Factors predicting dropout were male gender (OR 1.441, p=0.0094), younger age (OR 0.979, p=0.005), and lower levels of education (OR 0.412, p <0.0001).
Conclusion:
The present study demonstrated a relatively high rate of CR programme dropout. Only less than a fifth of the patients completed this hospital-based programme. Patients who were male and younger and had lower education levels were better likely to drop out of the CR programme. Social support and educational programmes may be helpful in achieving better compliance.
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