Bulletin

Issue: March 2004

Research in Action

CARDIAC REHABILTATION SAVES LIVES

What is the link between Dr Mike Westerman examining mitochondrial DNA sequences of both extinct and living kangaroos in his La Trobe University genetics laboratory -and the best way to spend scarce conservation funds?

A study which La Trobe University inaugurated and played a major part has revealed that only 24% of eligible patients attend cardiac rehabilitation programs in Victoria.

This occurs despite evidence that attending a cardiac rehabilitation program following a major cardiac event can increase the chance of survival by 35%.

The Medical Journal of Australia published results of the study early in 2004.

La Trobe's School of Physiotherapy and the National Heart Foundation of Australia inaugurated the project which was carried out in collaboration with the Victorian Department of Human Services.

It revealed that people who attended cardiac rehabilitation had a 35% improvement in mortality at five years compared with non-attendees.

The study utilised a state-wide database of Victorian cardiac rehabilitation participants in 1998 and linked it to both the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset and the Victorian Deaths Register for the same period. The linked database was then used to identify participation rates and patient mortality at five years.

One of the study investigators, Associate Professor Helen McBurney of La Trobe's School of Physiotherapy, said that although the attendance rate of eligible patients at rehabilitation programs was high by world standards, there was much room for improvement.

'Reasons for people not attending cardiac rehabilitation programs need to be investigated and strategies developed to improve participation,' she said.

Another investigator, Dr Vijaya Sundararajan, Senior Epidemiologist, Health Surveillance and Evaluation Section, Department of Human Services, said that the study confirmed cardiac rehabilitation was poorly attended in Victoria.

'Attendance rates for patients following acute myocardial infarction was only 15%, coronary angioplasty was 14% and coronary artery bypass grafting slightly higher at 37%. In addition, attendance is even lower by groups that may benefit the most from it-the elderly, women, those with co-morbid conditions and those without access to teaching and private hospitals,' she said.

Professor Andrew Tonkin, Heart Foundation Director of Health, Medical & Scientific Affairs said cardiac rehabilitation helped patients who have experienced a cardiac event, such as heart attack, to return to an active, satisfying life and minimise the risk of further cardiac events and conditions.

'Cardiac rehabilitation aims to assist participants to achieve lifestyle changes that will modify risk factors, using a combination of physical activity, health education such as quitting smoking and healthy eating, counselling and support,' he said.•

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