Clinical Effectiveness and Utilisation of Cardiac Rehabilitation After Hospital Discharge: Data Linkage Analysis of 84,064 Eligible Discharged Patients (2016-2021)

Alline Beleigoli; Jonathon Foote; Lemlem G Gebremichael; Norma B Bulamu; Carolyn Astley; Wendy Keech; Rosanna Tavella; Aarti Gulyani; Katie Nesbitt; Maria Alejandra Pinero de Plaza; Joyce S Ramos; Marie Ludlow; Stephen J Nicholls; Derek P Chew; John Beltrame; Robyn A Clark

doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2024.01.018

Clinical Effectiveness and Utilisation of Cardiac Rehabilitation After Hospital Discharge: Data Linkage Analysis of 84,064 Eligible Discharged Patients (2016-2021)

Heart Lung Circ. 2024 Mar 5:S1443-9506(24)00048-9. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.01.018. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Alline Beleigoli¹, Jonathon Foote², Lemlem G Gebremichael², Norma B Bulamu³, Carolyn Astley², Wendy Keech⁴, Rosanna Tavella⁵, Aarti Gulyani², Katie Nesbitt², Maria Alejandra Pinero de Plaza², Joyce S Ramos², Marie Ludlow⁶, Stephen J Nicholls⁷, Derek P Chew⁸, John Beltrame⁵, Robyn A Clark⁹

Affiliations

¹ Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia. Electronic address: alline.beleigoli@flinders.edu.au.
² Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
³ Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁴ Health Translation SA, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁵ Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁶ National Heart Foundation of Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁷ Victorian Heart Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
⁸ Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Victorian Heart Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
⁹ Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA, Australia.

PMID: 38443278
DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.01.018

Abstract

Background: Despite the highest levels of evidence on cardiac rehabilitation (CR) effectiveness, its translation into practice is compromised by low participation.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate CR utilisation and effectiveness in South Australia.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data linkage of clinical and administrative databases from 2016 to 2021 to assess the association between CR utilisation (no CR received, commenced without completing, or completed) and the composite primary outcome (mortality/cardiovascular re-admissions within 12 months after discharge). Cox survival models were adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical data and applied to a population balanced by inverse probability weighting. Associations with non-completion were assessed by logistic regression.

Results: Among 84,064 eligible participants, 74,189 did not receive CR, with 26,833 of the 84,064 (31.9%) participants referred. Of these, 9,875 (36.8%) commenced CR, and 7,681 of the 9,875 (77.8%) completed CR. Median waiting time from discharge to commencement was 40 days (interquartile range, 23-79 days). Female sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.12; 95% CI 1.01-1.24; p=0.024), depression (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.05-1.30; p=0.002), and waiting time >28 days (OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.05-1.26; p=0.005) were associated with higher odds of non-completion, whereas enrolment in a telehealth program (OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.31-0.40; p<0.001) was associated with lower odds of non-completion. Completing CR (hazard ratio [HR] 0.62; 95% CI 0.58-0.66; p<0.001) was associated with a lower risk of 12-month mortality/cardiovascular re-admissions. Commencing without completing was also associated with decreased risk (HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.73-0.90; p<0.001), but the effect was lower than for those completing CR (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) attendance is associated with lower all-cause mortality/cardiovascular re-admissions, with CR completion leading to additional benefits. Quality improvement initiatives should include promoting referral, women's participation, access to telehealth, and reduction of waiting times to increase completion.

Keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation; Clinical audit and effectiveness; Quality improvement.