Outpatient cardiac phase III rehabilitation at a Viennese institution - retrospective cohort study

This retrospective cohort study analyses effectiveness and sustainability of the current cardiac Phase III (Ph-III) rehabilitation program, provided by the Centre for Outpatient Rehabilitation (ZAR). We analysed routine data of 451 intervention group patients (IG, with Ph-III) and 781 control group patients (KG, without Ph-III). In a median observation period of 2.73 years we found 30% less cases of death in the IG based on the mortality risk observed in the KG (rr = 0.70; p = 0.108). However, we registered more re-events, mainly stent implantations in the IG (rr = 1.34; p = 0.095). Groups differed in some baseline characteristics. The lower mortality risk by trend might be explained by the close-meshed care, the IG patients' more health conscious behaviour or a selection bias of the KG (e.g. more severe underlying disease). The causality of potential positive effects cannot be confirmed by this study because of the study design.