THE ASSOCIATION OF FRAILTY AND LONG-TERM ADVERSE OUTCOMES IN PEOPLE WHO ATTEND CARDIAC REHABILITATION

Abstract

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation programs are the gold standard for supporting patients to recover from cardiac events such as a heart attack. Patients who enrol in cardiac rehabilitation are often older and are burdened by health problems other than their cardiovascular disease. People who have many health problems can be described as frail. Although frailty is highly prevalent in people who attend cardiac rehabilitation, its implications for long-term outcomes of patients is yet to be elucidated.

Purpose: To examine the association between 1) admission frailty and 2) frailty changes during cardiac rehabilitation with long-term outcomes (due to all-causes or cardiovascular diseases) including time to mortality, first hospitalization, first emergency department (ED) visit, and number of hospitalizations, hospital days, and ED visits over a 5-year follow-up.

Conclusion: Frailty status at cardiac rehabilitation admission was related to long-term adverse outcomes. Frailty improvements during cardiac rehabilitation were associated with delayed time to all-cause hospitalization.