Effects of cardiac rehabilitation on risk factor management and quality of life in patients with ischemic heart disease: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION While cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves survival outcomes in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), the long‑ term benefits of short term programs are still discussed. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to assess the impact of CR on risk factor management in a multicenter real‑ life registry of patients with IHD. PATIENTS AND METHODS We included patients aged 80 years or younger who had been hospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome or for a myocardial revascularization procedure and interviewed 6 to 18 months later. Control of risk factors was compared between patients who participated in CR and those who did not. Propensity score matching was used to account for differences in patient characteristics between the groups. RESULTS Of 1012 interviewed patients (28.6% women), 35.6% were referred for CR and 76.1% of them completed the program. Those referred were younger (P <0.001), employed (P <0.001), have presented with ST‑ segment elevation myocardial infarction (P <0.001), had hypertension (P <0.001), and were current smokers (P <0.001). Logistics regression revealed that patients who participated in CR were more likely to stop smoking (odds ratio [OR], 2.42; 95% CI, 1.33-4.14), achieve acceptable glucose control (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.02-2.83), and better quality of life (β = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.00-0.24) compared with those who did not participate in CR. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac rehabilitation is moderately effective if performed only once and without a continuous support program. Further efforts to increase referrals for CR in patients with IHD must be accompanied by a long‑ term strategy to sustain the beneficial effects.