Shortened cardiac rehabilitation: a three year experience

One-hundred-and-twenty-four (19%) of patients with acute myocardial infarction seen in a three year period from 1975 to 1978 were considered low risk patients suitable for rapid mobilisation, early discharge, and early exercise testing. Their mean long term Norris Prognostic Index was 3.2; the mean date of discharge was 9.6 days, and the mean date of exercise testing was 10.5 days. There were seven deaths and nine non-fatal recurrent myocardial infarctions in a mean follow up time of 14.2 months. These events were best predicted by a history of angina prior to myocardial infarction or radiological cardiomegaly detected in the CCU. Altogether 98 (80%) of the patients returned to work at a median time of six weeks after their infarct. The nett effect of the team activity has been to reduce the need for referral to the National Heart Foundation Assessment Centre from an average of 15 patients per year to an average of two per year.