[Rehabilitation in ambulatory coronary groups]

In Western Germany anti-coronary clubs are a relatively new form of organized rehabilitation and secondary prevention after myocardial infarction. At the present time there are operating about 120 such groups, sponsored by hospitals, sports clubs, groups of family doctors, educational organizations and patient selfhelping groups. The groups divided in "good risk", "bad risk" and "preventive" group play an important role in a comprehensive rehabilitation program. Their aims are: changing the risk factors and life style, easing anxiety, depressions, denial and overmotivation, improving life quality, reintegrating the patients into social life, improving physical fitness. Multicenter studies are necessary to find out, if Anticoronary Clubs are able to lower the mortality rate and the reinfarction morbidity.