Article

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of depression and anxiety on patient completion
of structured cardiac rehabilitation. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 380
patients with myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, angina, or
chronic heart failure referred to cardiac rehabilitation. Patient physical
capacity was tested by the standard 12-minute walk test (WT). Depression,
anxiety, and quality of life were assessed by standard questionnaires. Program
completers were contrasted to dropouts on dependent variables at baseline.
Baseline and postprogram WT, depression, anxiety, and quality of life were also
compared in completers by using ANOVA and paired t tests. RESULTS: One-half of
entering patients completed the program. Statistically significant differences
were observed in baseline depression, anxiety, and quality of life between
program completers and dropouts. Dropouts had higher depression and anxiety
scores and lower quality of life, but there were no differences in WT. Younger,
female patients had higher dropout rates. Women also had higher psychological
distress, lower quality of life, and less feet walked than men. Dropout rate was
lowest in patients with coronary artery bypass graft and highest in patients with
chronic heart failure. Both male and female completers evidenced significant
improvements in WT, depression, anxiety, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS:
Psychological distress makes completion of cardiac rehabilitation difficult.
Patients need to be assessed early in the intervention so that depression and
anxiety can be identified and managed. Completion of the program is advantageous
because it is associated with improvement in all measured variables.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI