Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2015

Publication Title

J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev

Abstract

PURPOSE: For patients hospitalized for a cardiac event, an earlier appointment to outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) increases participation. However, it is unknown what effect hastening CR enrollment might have among employed patients planning to return to work (RTW).

METHODS: Using 2 complementary data sets from Henry Ford Hospital (HFH) and Mayo Clinic, we assessed when employed patients eligible for CR anticipated a RTW, the impact of an earlier appointment on CR enrollment, and the effect of employment status on the number of CR sessions attended. Patients at HFH attended CR at either 8 or 42 days (through randomization), whereas Mayo Clinic patients attended 10 days after hospital discharge per standard routines.

RESULTS: Among 148 patients at HFH, 65 (44%) were employed and planned to RTW. Of these, 67% desired to RTW within 1 to 2 weeks, whereas 28% anticipated an RTW within 1 to 3 days. Home financial strain predicted nonparticipation in CR (P < .001) and was associated with an earlier planned RTW. Among 1030 patients at Mayo Clinic, 393 (38%) were employed. Employed (vs nonemployed) patients enrolled in CR 3.3 days sooner (P < .001), but attended 1.6 fewer CR sessions (P = .04). In employed patients from both health systems, an earlier (vs later) appointment to CR did not result in additional exercise sessions of CR.

CONCLUSIONS: Employed patients plan to RTW quickly, in part because of home finances. They also enroll earlier into CR than nonemployed patients. Despite these findings, earlier appointments do not seem to favorably impact overall CR participation.

Medical Subject Headings

Employment; Female; Heart Diseases; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Outpatients; Patient Compliance; Patient Discharge; Retrospective Studies; Return to Work; Single-Blind Method

PubMed ID

26468632

Volume

35

Issue

6

First Page

390

Last Page

398

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.