Employment Status and Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation: DOES ENCOURAGING EARLIER ENROLLMENT IMPROVE ATTENDANCE?. Issue 6 (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pack, Quinn R.; Squires, Ray W.; Valdez-Lowe, Claudia; Mansour, Mouhamad; Thomas, Randal J.; Keteyian, Steven J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention. Volume 35:Issue 6(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: appointment -- cardiac rehabilitation -- employment -- return to work -- timing; Cardiopulmonary system -- Diseases -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Cardiopulmonary system -- Diseases -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 616.103
• DOI: 10.1097/HCR.0000000000000140
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1932-7501

Abstract

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. Abstract : Using 2 complementary data sets, we evaluated the relationship between employment status, cardiac rehabilitation participation, and the effect of an earlier appointment. We found that, although employed patients plan to return to work quickly and enroll in cardiac rehabilitation sooner, an earlier appointment did not seem to favorably improve cardiac rehabilitation enrollment or participation.