The idea that cardiac rehabilitation is beneficial after a heart attack might seem straightforward, but past studies have offered mixed results.
However, a new analysis from Duke Health is changing the narrative by providing clear evidence that cardiac rehab can be a lifesaver for heart attack patients and those who have undergone procedures to clear blockages.
Published in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, the Duke team’s research reveals that despite being eligible, less than 10% of cardiovascular disease patients actually participate in cardiac rehab.
Astonishingly, those who do participate see a dramatic 43% reduction in the risk of mortality or hospital readmission compared to those who don’t.
Lead author Brian Duscha, an exercise physiologist at Duke, emphasized the universal benefit of cardiac rehab. It significantly helps patients regardless of their age, sex, education, income level, or race.
This finding is pivotal as it counters previous research that had limitations, often including patients who, due to various constraints like frailty or distance, couldn’t access rehab services.
The study analyzed 2,641 patients at Duke Health hospitals with coronary artery disease, all within a feasible distance to attend rehab at Duke.
The included patients had experienced myocardial infarction or had blockages requiring stenting or bypass surgery.
Those unable to participate due to reasons like skilled nursing care, valve replacements, heart transplants, or living too far from the rehab center were excluded.
This careful selection and accounting for factors such as demographics and medical therapies allowed for a more accurate assessment of cardiac rehab’s impact.
Only about 8% of the eligible patients participated in at least one session of cardiac rehab. However, among these participants, a significant majority (93%) attended five or more sessions.
Attending even five sessions correlated with a 10% reduced risk of readmission or death, according to Duscha.
Senior author William Kraus, M.D., a professor of cardiology at Duke, further highlighted that each additional rehab session attended lowered the risk of death or rehospitalization by 2%.
This study sheds new light on the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation.
It confirms that attending rehab sessions post-heart attack or post-blockage clearance is not just a good idea; it’s a potentially lifesaving one.
Kraus summed it up aptly: Cardiac rehabilitation is effective and economical, as it saves money and, more importantly, lives. The question isn’t why you should participate in cardiac rehab, but why wouldn’t you?
The research findings can be found in Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention.
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