Non-attendance and drop-out in cardiac rehabilitation among patients with ischaemic heart disease

Previous studies have shown drop-out from cardiac rehabilitation (CR) to have prognostic influence on morbidity and mortality among patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). We aimed to identify and clarify patients' reasons for non-attendance and drop-out from CR. A total of 872 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction and/or after percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass surgery were asked by conventional mail to fill in a self-completion questionnaire on their choice of post-hospital CR and their reasons for drop-out or for non-attendance. Age, employment and marital status had a statistically significant influence on the overall course of CR. Younger age, affiliation with the labour market and living alone were related to a higher drop-out from CR in univariate analysis. We found no evidence of a gender difference among the patients who withdrew. Lack of time was stated as the prevailing reason for non-attendance and withdrawal from CR programmes among employed patients and in people aged 65 years or younger. Patients above 75 years of age asked for additional differentiation of exercise levels; currently two levels are offered. Or they found CR meaningless given their physical condition or their overall life situation. In patients with IHD, age, marital status and employment status play a role in the patient's attendance or drop out from CR. Different physical conditions, lack of time, too great a distance from residence to hospital, transport problems and lack of understanding of the benefits of CR explain why patients refuse to participate in or drop-out from CR. supported by grant from The Danish Ministry of Health. not relevant.