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

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. 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. 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. 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