TITLE:
Patient Adherence to a Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program: What Factors Are Involved?
AUTHORS:
María José Bustamante, Giovanna Valentino, Verónica Krämer, Marcela Adasme, Dominique Guidi, Camila Ibara, Cinthia Casasbellas, Lorena Orellana, Marcelo Fernández, Carlos Navarrete, Mónica Acevedo
KEYWORDS:
Cardiac Rehabilitation, Adherence, Secondary Prevention
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clinical Medicine,
Vol.6 No.9,
September
7,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background: Phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a class IA indication in patients suffering a cardiovascular event (CV). Current guidelines suggest 36 exercise sessions over a period of 3 months. The main aim of this study was to analyze the rate of adherence to a cardiac rehabilitation program and the factors influencing it. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in 421 secondary prevention patients, who assisted to a Phase-II-CR program between 2007 and 2014. At baseline and program end, patients completed a 6-minute walk test and the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). Vital signs and anthropometric measurements were also collected. Adherence was quantified as the percentage of individuals who attended all 36 sessions of the program. Factors considered for affecting adherence included: cardiovascular risk factors (RFs), type of health insurance (public or private), aerobic capacity, and SF-36 score parameters. Results: Adherence to Phase-II-CR was 33%, with no significant differences between men and women. The regression model fully adjusted for age, sex, RFs, type of health insurance and SF-36 score, showed that a SF-36 score