Association Between Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation and Falls in Older Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A...

Falls are a serious medical problem. With the aging of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), falls have become an important clinical outcome. However, evidence regarding falls in this population is limited, and the impact of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) remains unclear. This study investigated the incidence of falls and examined the association between outpatient CR (OCR) and falls among older patients with CVD.

This single-center prospective cohort study included 110 patients with CVD aged ≥65 years who participated in early phase II CR (mean age 77±6 years; 36% women). The occurrence and frequency of falls within 1 year of discharge were assessed using a mailed self-reported questionnaire. Participants were divided into non-OCR and OCR groups. The overall incidence rate of falls was 20.9%. The non-OCR group had a significantly higher occurrence and frequency of falls than the OCR group. Negative binomial and modified Poisson regression analyses demonstrated that OCR participation was significantly associated with a lower fall rate (adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.76; P<0.01) and risk (adjusted risk ratio 0.39; 95% CI 0.18-0.89; P=0.02).

Among older patients with CVD, approximately 20% experienced a fall within 1 year after hospital discharge. Patients who participated in the OCR program had significantly lower fall rates and risks.