Differences in Cardiac Rehabilitation Enrollment by Referral Setting

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• National guidelines emphasize early cardiac rehabilitation (CR) referrals before hospital discharge.
• Patient willingness to enroll in CR may be influenced by prior discussions with cardiologists.
• This study investigates enrollment rates based on referral type: inpatient, outpatient, and dual.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the odds of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) enrollment based on inpatient, outpatient, and dual referral settings.
• To identify factors influencing CR enrollment among referred patients.
• To inform strategies for improving CR uptake.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 1614 patients referred to CR from October 2021 to September 2022.
• Comparison of CR enrollment rates across inpatient (n=807), outpatient (n=670), and dual (n=137) referral groups.
• Multivariable regression analysis to determine predictors of enrollment, controlling for demographics and comorbidities.

Main Results:

• Overall enrollment rate was 54% (874/1614 patients).
• Outpatient referrals (70%) and dual referrals (60%) had significantly higher enrollment rates than inpatient referrals (40%).
• Patients >80 years had lower odds of enrollment (OR=0.50) compared to younger patients.

Conclusions:

• Outpatient and dual referrals are associated with greater odds of CR enrollment than inpatient referrals.
• Older patients (>80 years) are less likely to enroll in CR.
• Future research should focus on enhancing inpatient CR referral processes and tailoring CR discussions for older adults.