Older adults from distressed communities attend less cardiac rehab after heart procedures

Researchers say reducing barriers must be prioritized

5:00 AM

Author | Noah Fromson

heart organ yellow blue
Justine Ross, Jacob Dwyer, Michigan Medicine

Older adults who live in disadvantaged communities are less likely to attend cardiac rehabilitation after common heart procedures, a Michigan Medicine-led study finds.

The study aimed to calculate how many Medicare beneficiaries attended cardiac rehabilitation, a medically supervised program exercise and education program, after coronary revascularization between mid-2016 and 2018.

Patient communities were categorized using the Distressed Community Index, which analyzes economic well-being and social determinants of health, such as educational disparities and poverty rate, of United States zip codes.

Only 26% of patients from distressed communities used cardiac rehab, compared to 46% of patients from areas deemed prosperous. Any patient who attended cardiac rehab, no matter where they lived, had a reduced risk of death, hospitalization and heart attack, according to results published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

SEE ALSO: Cardiac rehabilitation reduces risk of death years after heart surgery, still underutilized

“Addressing barriers to participation in cardiac rehabilitation in distressed communities may improve outcomes for these patients and reduce longstanding disparities in such outcomes,” said first author Michael P. Thompson, Ph.D., assistant professor of cardiac surgery at University of Michigan Medical School.

“While some individuals who face geographic barriers to participation may benefit from transportation services or virtual options for cardiac rehab, there is a critical need to address socioeconomic barriers that prevent so many patients from attending this lifesaving therapy.”

Additional authors include, Hechuan Hou, Francis D. Pagani, M.D., Ph.D., Robert B. Hawkins, M.D., Devraj Sukul, M.D., and Donald S. Likosky, Ph.D., all of University of Michigan, James W. Stewart II, M.D., of Yale School of Medicine, and Steven J. Keteyian, Ph.D., of Henry Ford Health.

This study was funded as part of a career development award Thompson received from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ, Grant no. 1K01HS027830).

Paper cited: “Relationship Between Community-Level Distress and Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation, Facility Access, and Clinical Outcomes After Inpatient Coronary Revascularization,” Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.123.010148

More Articles About: Cardiac Rehabilitation Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) Cardiovascular: Diseases & Conditions Heart disease Cardiovascular: Treatment & Surgery Cardiovascular: Preventive Cardiology Interventional cardiology Heart Attack Prevention Cardiac Surgery Post Operative and Recovery
Health Lab word mark overlaying blue cells
Health Lab

Explore a variety of health care news & stories by visiting the Health Lab home page for more articles.
Related
heart image drawing
Health Lab
TAVR: Less than one-third of patients enter cardiac rehab after heart procedure
The vast majority of people who have a minimally invasive heart valve replacement procedure do not participate in recommended cardiac rehabilitation, a Michigan Medicine-led study finds.
Stay Informed

Want top health & research news weekly? Sign up for Health Lab’s newsletters today!

Subscribe
Featured News & Stories older man with glasses standing at balcony with back to glass windows
Health Lab
Roy’s Michigan Answer: Second opinion saves patient’s heart
Michigan Medicine's team of cardiology experts offered an advanced, minimally invasive coronary intervention, which restored one patient back to good health
 patient family and child life team member smiling and then a photo next to that one with the same worker helping someone in a wheelchair in a patient office
Health Lab
A pediatric program helping adults through cardiovascular disease, surgery
A child life program that has helped kids and their families reduce stress and anxiety associated with hospitalization and illness is now finding success with adult patients undergoing complex heart procedures as well.
 baby laying down with stethoscope over chest doctors hands
Health Lab
Comparing life threatening illness risk between two surgeries for infants with congenital heart disease
Newly presented data suggest that infants who receive a hybrid stage I palliation – a less invasive alternative for initial treatment – more commonly develop necrotizing enterocolitis compared to those who receive the standard Norwood operation, a complex open heart surgery.
 purple gloves close up holding piece
Health Lab
Recycled pacemakers function as well as new devices, international study suggests
Recycled pacemakers can function as well as new devices, a University of Michigan-led study suggests. These used and reconditioned devices have the potential to increase access to pacemaker therapy in low- and middle-income countries, where many patients cannot afford the treatment.
 clinical team and patient standing together
Health Lab
Planting a tree, and hope, for a heart healthy future
A complex mitral valve repair by Michigan Medicine cardiac specialists helps restore health and happiness to one Michigan patient and his family.
 surgeon dark room over surgery patient on hospital table
Health Lab
Women more likely than men to die after heart surgery complications
Despite having no greater chance of developing problems after high risk cardiovascular surgery, women are more likely than men to die from post-operative complications, a University of Michigan-led study suggests.