The effect of postpartum depression on child cognitive development and behavior: a review and critical analysis of the literature

The incidence of postpartum depression (PPD) in Western societies is approximately 10-15% and its cause multi-faceted. Because mothers largely constitute infants' social environment and mediate their experience of the external world, it is imperative to investigate the effects of PPD on child growth and development. PsycInfo, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, ProQuest, and Health Star databases were searched with key terms for English language abstracts from 1990 onwards, and key contents were searched. There are small effects of PPD on cognitive development such as language and IQ, seen particularly among boys. Behavioral effects are variably supported, but may persist up to 5 years postpartum and beyond. However, chronic or recurrent maternal depression, rather than postpartum depression per se is likely related to later effects on the child. These adverse effects of PPD based on sex of infant are discussed.

Sex differences in cardiac rehabilitation enrollment: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The present systematic review and meta-analysis examines studies published in the past 10 years that described cardiac rehabilitation (CR) enrollment among women and men, to determine whether a significant sex difference persists despite the evidence supporting the benefits of CR to women as well as men.

METHODS

Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and The Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for peer-reviewed articles published from July 2000 to July 2011. Titles and abstracts were screened, and the 623 selected full-text articles were independently screened based on predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria (guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; PRISMA) and assessed for quality using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement form. The meta-analysis was undertaken using Review Manager software.

RESULTS

Twenty-six eligible observational studies reporting data for 297,719 participants (128,499 [43.2%] women) were included. On average, 45.0% of men and 38.5% of women enrolled in CR. In the pooled analysis, men were more likely to be enrolled in CR compared with women (female enrollment vs male enrollment odds ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.72; P < 0.00001). Heterogeneity was considered high (I(2) = 78%). In the subgroup analyses, systematic CR referral during inpatient tertiary care resulted in significantly greater enrollment among women than nonsystematic referral.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, rates of CR enrollment among women are significantly lower compared with men, with women being 36% less likely to enroll in a rehabilitation program.

Effect of cardiac rehabilitation referral strategies on utilization rates: a prospective, controlled study

BACKGROUND

Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been shown to reduce mortality and is a recommended component in clinical practice guidelines, CR referral and utilization rates remain low. Referral strategies have been implemented to increase CR use but have yet to be compared concurrently. To determine the optimal strategy to maximize CR referral, enrollment, and participation, we evaluated 3 referral strategies compared with usual care: "automatic" only via discharge order or electronic record, health care provider liaison only, or a combined approach.

METHODS

In this prospective controlled study, 2635 inpatients with coronary artery disease from 11 Ontario, Canada, hospitals using 1 of the 4 referral strategies completed a sociodemographic survey, and clinical data were extracted from medical charts. One year later, 1809 participants completed a mailed survey that assessed CR utilization. Referral strategies were compared using generalized estimating equations to control for effect of hospital.

RESULTS

Adjusted analyses revealed referral strategy was significantly related to CR referral and enrollment (P<.001). Combined automatic and liaison referral resulted in the greatest CR use (odds ratio [OR], 8.41; 85.8% referral, 73.5% enrollment), followed by automatic only (OR, 3.27; 70.2% referral, 60.0% enrollment), and liaison only (OR, 3.35; 59.0% referral, 50.6% enrollment), compared with usual referral (32.2% referral, 29.0% enrollment). The degree of CR participation did not differ by referral strategy among referred participants (mean [SD] percentage of classes attended, 82.87% [27.20%]; P=.88).

CONCLUSIONS

Automatic referral combined with a patient discussion can achieve among the highest rates of CR referral reported. Wider adoption of such strategies could ensure that 45% more patients being treated for cardiac disease would have access to and realize the benefits of CR.

A systematic review of patient education in cardiac patients: do they increase knowledge and promote health behavior change?

OBJECTIVE

(1) To investigate the impact of education on patients' knowledge; (2) to determine if educational interventions are related to health behavior change in cardiac patients; and (3) to describe the nature of educational interventions.

METHODS

A literature search of several electronic databases was conducted for published articles from database inception to August 2012. Eligible articles included cardiac patients, and described delivery of educational interventions by a healthcare provider. Outcomes were knowledge, smoking, physical activity, dietary habits, response to symptoms, medication adherence, and psychosocial well-being. Articles were reviewed by 2 authors independently.

RESULTS

Overall, 42 articles were included, of which 23 (55%) were randomized controlled trials, and 16 (38%) were considered "good" quality. Eleven studies (26%) assessed knowledge, and 10 showed a significant increase with education. With regard to outcomes, educational interventions were significantly and positively related to physical activity, dietary habits, and smoking cessation. The nature of interventions was poorly described and most frequently delivered post-discharge, by a nurse, and in groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings support the benefits of educational interventions in CHD, though increase in patients' knowledge and behavior change.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Future reporting of education interventions should be more explicitly characterized, in order to be reproducible and assessed.

Global availability of cardiac rehabilitation

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most-prevalent noncommunicable disease and leading cause of death globally. Over 80% of deaths from CVD occur in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). To limit the socioeconomic impact of CVD, a comprehensive approach to health care is needed. Cardiac rehabilitation delivers a cost-effective and structured exercise, education, and risk reduction programme, which can reduce mortality by up to 25% in addition to improving a patient's functional capacity and lowering rehospitalization rates. Despite these benefits and recommendations in clinical practice guidelines, cardiac rehabilitation programmes are grossly under-used compared with revascularization or medical therapy for patients with CVD. Worldwide, only 38.8% of countries have cardiac rehabilitation programmes. Specifically, 68.0% of high-income and 23% of LMICs (8.3% for low-income and 28.2% for middle-income countries) offer cardiac rehabilitation programmes to patients with CVD. Cardiac rehabilitation density estimates range from one programme per 0.1 to 6.4 million inhabitants. Multilevel strategies to augment cardiac rehabilitation capacity and availability at national and international levels, such as supportive public health policies, systematic referral strategies, and alternative models of delivery are needed.

Adjusted prognostic association of depression following myocardial infarction with mortality and cardiovascular events: individual patient data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The association between depression after myocardial infarction and increased risk of mortality and cardiac morbidity may be due to cardiac disease severity.

AIMS

To combine original data from studies on the association between post-infarction depression and prognosis into one database, and to investigate to what extent such depression predicts prognosis independently of disease severity.

METHOD

An individual patient data meta-analysis of studies was conducted using multilevel, multivariable Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies participated, creating a database of 10 175 post-infarction cases. Hazard ratios for post-infarction depression were 1.32 (95% CI 1.26-1.38, P<0.001) for all-cause mortality and 1.19 (95% CI 1.14-1.24, P<0.001) for cardiovascular events. Hazard ratios adjusted for disease severity were attenuated by 28% and 25% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The association between depression following myocardial infarction and prognosis is attenuated after adjustment for cardiac disease severity. Still, depression remains independently associated with prognosis, with a 22% increased risk of all-cause mortality and a 13% increased risk of cardiovascular events per standard deviation in depression z-score.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Availability and Density around the Globe

BACKGROUND

Despite the epidemic of cardiovascular disease and the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), availability is known to be insufficient, although this is not quantified. This study ascertained CR availability, volumes and its drivers, and density.

METHODS

A survey was administered to CR programs globally. Cardiac associations and local champions facilitated program identification. Factors associated with volumes were assessed using generalized linear mixed models, and compared by World Health Organization region. Density (i.e. annual ischemic heart disease [IHD] incidence estimate from Global Burden of Disease study divided by national CR capacity) was computed.

FINDINGS

CR was available in 111/203 (54.7%) countries; data were collected in 93 (83.8% country response; N = 1082 surveys, 32.1% program response rate). Availability by region ranged from 80.7% of countries in Europe, to 17.0% in Africa (p < .001). There were 5753 programs globally that could serve 1,655,083 patients/year, despite an estimated 20,279,651 incident IHD cases globally/year. Volume was significantly greater where patients were systematically referred (odds ratio [OR] = 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.35-1.38) and programs offered alternative models (OR = 1.05, 95%CI = 1.04-1.06), and significantly lower with private (OR = .92, 95%CI = .91-.93) or public (OR = .83, 95%CI = .82-84) funding compared to hybrid sources.Median capacity (i.e., number of patients a program could serve annually) was 246/program (Q25-Q75 = 150-390). The absolute density was one CR spot per 11 IHD cases in countries with CR, and 12 globally.

INTERPRETATION

CR is available in only half of countries globally. Where offered, capacity is grossly insufficient, such that most patients will not derive the benefits associated with participation.

Prospective examination of anxiety persistence and its relationship to cardiac symptoms and recurrent cardiac events

BACKGROUND

The current study builds on previous research demonstrating a link between anxiety and inhospital recurrent ischemic and arrhythmic events, by examining the effects of persistent anxiety on recurrent events 1 year later.

METHODS

913 patients with unstable angina (UA) and myocardial infarction (MI) from 12 coronary care units were recruited, and follow-up data were collected at 6 and 12 months after the event. Measures included cardiac symptomatology, healthcare utilization, the anxiety subscale of the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders , the phobic anxiety subscale of the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory.

RESULTS

Over one third of participants with UA and MI experienced elevated anxiety at the time of the ischemic event, and these symptoms persisted for 1 year in 50% of anxious participants. Although participants with anxiety reported more atypical cardiac symptomatology, the prevalence of typical cardiac symptoms such as chest pain did not differ based on anxiety. After controlling for the severity of the coronary event, family income, sex, diabetes, and smoking, the following variables were significantly predictive of self-reported recurrent cardiac events at 6 months or 1 year: older age, family history of cardiovascular disease, greater depressive symptomatology at baseline, and anxiety at 6 months. Only 38% of anxious patients were asked about such symptoms, indicating underutilization of effective psychotherapeutic treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Over and above the effects of depressive symptomatology (among other confounding variables), nonphobic anxiety appears to have a negative effect on self-reported outcome following an ischemic coronary event. Anxiety symptomatology is underrecognized and undertreated, and examination of effects of treatment on secondary prevention must be pursued.

Sex Differences in Cardiac Rehabilitation Adherence: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participation is associated with significantly lower mortality, and this benefit has been established as dose-dependent. Because it has been suggested that women are adherent to CR programs less than men, the objective of this study was to review CR adherence among women and men, and to determine whether a sex difference exists.

METHODS

MedLine, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane databases were systematically searched. Titles and abstracts were screened, and selected full-text articles were independently considered on the basis of predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Data from included articles were extracted by 2 authors independently and assessed for quality. The meta-analysis was undertaken with predefined subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

The search identified 5148 articles, of which 149 were fully examined for inclusion consideration. Fourteen studies reporting data on 8176 participants (2234 [27.3%] women) were included. Overall, CR adherence ranged from 36.7% to 84.6% of sessions, with a mean of 66.5 ± 18.2% (median, 72.5%). Men and women enrolled in CR adhered to 68.6% and 64.2% of prescribed sessions, respectively (mean difference = -3.6; 95% confidence interval, -6.9 to -0.3). The sex difference persisted in studies of high quality, that were undertaken in Canada, published since 2010, and where programs were longer than 12 weeks' duration and offered fewer than 3 sessions per week.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis to systematically report CR adherence rates, and results suggest that patients adhere to more than two-thirds of prescribed sessions. CR adherence is significantly lower among women than men. Identified strategies to promote adherence need to be tested among women.

Effect of depression on five-year mortality after an acute coronary syndrome

Previous research has established a relation between depression at the time of cardiac hospitalization and patient mortality. The objective of this study was to examine the role of depressive history and symptomatology during hospitalization on 5-year all-cause mortality after admission for an acute coronary syndrome. We recruited 750 patients who had unstable angina pectoris and myocardial infarction from 12 coronary care units between 1997 and 1999. Measurements included sociodemographic and clinic data and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Data were linked to an administrative database to determine 5-year all-cause mortality. Survival data were adjusted using a Cox's proportional hazards model. One hundred seventy-four participants (23.2%) self-reported a history of depressed mood for >2 weeks, 235 (31.3%) had elevated BDI scores at index hospitalization, with 105 (14.0%) reporting persistent depressive symptomatology. One hundred fifteen participants (15.3%) died by 5 years after hospitalization. After adjusting for prognostic indicators, such as cardiac disease severity, medical history, and smoking, depressive symptomatology during hospitalization was significantly predictive of mortality, but depressive history was not. Hazard ratios associated with BDI scores <10 versus those > or =10 at hospitalization ranged from 1.90 (95% confidence interval 1.12 to 3.24) at 2 years to 1.53 (95% confidence interval 1.04 to 2.24) at 5 years. In conclusion, the significance of depressive symptomatology at the time of, but not before, hospitalization underlines the need for early identification of increased distress and renews calls to identify treatments that not only improve quality of life but also decrease the risk of mortality.

Cardiac rehabilitation II: referral and participation

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability for women and men. Substantial health risks continue following ischemic coronary events (ICEs), but secondary prevention efforts, including cardiac rehabilitation (CR), have beneficial effects on both early and late mortality and morbidity. This prospective study examined the relationship among psychosocial factors and CR referral and participation patterns in 906 (586 men, 320 women) patients from the coronary intensive care unit (CICU) over the course of six months. Only 30% of participants were referred to CR programs, with significantly fewer women being referred. A logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, or social support predicted CR participation six months following an ICE, while controlling for sociodemographic factors. Results show that higher family income, greater anxiety symptomatology, and higher self-efficacy were significantly predictive of CR participation at six months. Implications for women's recovery from an ICE are discussed.

Comparative Effectiveness of the Core Components of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Mortality and Morbidity: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

A systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the core components of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), nutritional counseling (NC), risk factor modification (RFM), psychosocial management (PM), patient education (PE), and exercise training (ET)) was undertaken. Published RCTs were identified from database inception dates to April 2017, and risk of bias assessed using Cochrane's tool. Endpoints included mortality (all-cause and cardiovascular (CV)) and morbidity (fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and hospitalization (all-cause and CV)). Meta-regression models decomposed treatment effects into the main effects of core components, and two-way or all-way interactions between them. Ultimately, 148 RCTs (50,965 participants) were included. Main effects models were best fitting for mortality (e.g., for all-cause, specifically PM (hazard ratio HR = 0.68, 95% credible interval CrI = 0.54⁻0.85) and ET (HR = 0.75, 95% CrI = 0.60⁻0.92) components effective), MI (e.g., for all-cause, specifically PM (hazard ratio HR = 0.76, 95% credible interval CrI = 0.57⁻0.99), ET (HR = 0.75, 95% CrI = 0.56⁻0.99) and PE (HR = 0.68, 95% CrI = 0.47⁻0.99) components effective) and hospitalization (e.g., all-cause, PM (HR = 0.76, 95% CrI = 0.58⁻0.96) effective). For revascularization (including CABG and PCI individually), the full interaction model was best-fitting. Given that each component, individual or in combination, was associated with mortality and/or morbidity, recommendations for comprehensive CR are warranted.

Cardiac rehabilitation delivery model for low-resource settings

Objective

Cardiovascular disease is a global epidemic, which is largely preventable. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is demonstrated to be cost-effective and efficacious in high-income countries. CR could represent an important approach to mitigate the epidemic of cardiovascular disease in lower-resource settings. The purpose of this consensus statement was to review low-cost approaches to delivering the core components of CR, to propose a testable model of CR which could feasibly be delivered in middle-income countries.

Methods

A literature review regarding delivery of each core CR component, namely: (1) lifestyle risk factor management (ie, physical activity, diet, tobacco and mental health), (2) medical risk factor management (eg, lipid control, blood pressure control), (3) education for self-management and (4) return to work, in low-resource settings was undertaken. Recommendations were developed based on identified articles, using a modified GRADE approach where evidence in a low-resource setting was available, or consensus where evidence was not.

Results

Available data on cost of CR delivery in low-resource settings suggests it is not feasible to deliver CR in low-resource settings as is delivered in high-resource ones. Strategies which can be implemented to deliver all of the core CR components in low-resource settings were summarised in practice recommendations, and approaches to patient assessment proffered. It is suggested that CR be adapted by delivery by non-physician healthcare workers, in non-clinical settings.

Conclusions

Advocacy to achieve political commitment for broad delivery of adapted CR services in low-resource settings is needed.

Nature of Cardiac Rehabilitation Around the Globe

BACKGROUND

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a clinically-effective but complex model of care. The purpose of this study was to characterize the nature of CR programs around the world, in relation to guideline recommendations, and compare this by World Health Organization (WHO) region.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, a piloted survey was administered online to CR programs globally. Cardiac associations and local champions facilitated program identification. Quality (benchmark of ≥ 75% of programs in a given country meeting each of 20 indicators) was ranked. Results were compared by WHO region using generalized linear mixed models.

FINDINGS

111/203 (54.7%) countries in the world offer CR; data were collected in 93 (83.8%; N = 1082 surveys, 32.1% program response rate). The most commonly-accepted indications were: myocardial infarction (n = 832, 97.4%), percutaneous coronary intervention (n = 820, 96.1%; 0.10), and coronary artery bypass surgery (n = 817, 95.8%). Most programs were led by physicians (n = 680; 69.1%). The most common CR providers (mean = 5.9 ± 2.8/program) were: nurses (n = 816, 88.1%; low in Africa, p < 0.001), dietitians (n = 739, 80.2%), and physiotherapists (n = 733, 79.3%). The most commonly-offered core components (mean = 8.7 ± 1.9 program) were: initial assessment (n = 939, 98.8%; most commonly for hypertension, tobacco, and physical inactivity), risk factor management (n = 928, 98.2%), patient education (n = 895, 96.9%), and exercise (n = 898, 94.3%; lower in Western Pacific, p < 0.01). All regions met ≥ 16/20 quality indicators, but quality was < 75% for tobacco cessation and return-to-work counseling (lower in Americas, p = < 0.05).

INTERPRETATION

This first-ever survey of CR around the globe suggests CR quality is high. However, there is significant regional variation, which could impact patient outcomes.

A multisite examination of sex differences in cardiac rehabilitation barriers by participation status

BACKGROUND

Despite its proven benefits and need, women are significantly less likely than men to participate in and complete cardiac rehabilitation (CR). The purpose of this study was to quantitatively investigate sex differences in CR barriers by participation status.

METHODS

Cardiac outpatients (1496, 430 female, 28.7%) of 97 cardiologists completed a mailed survey to discern CR participation. Respondents were asked to rate 19 CR barriers on a 5-point Likert scale.

RESULTS

Five hundred twenty-nine (43%) respondents self-reported participating in CR, with men being more likely to participate (p < 0.05). There was no significant sex difference in total number of CR barriers, but differences in individual barriers were found. For CR participants, t tests revealed significant sex differences in the perception of exercise as tiring or painful (p = 0.042) and work responsibilities (p = 0.013). For CR nonparticipants, women rated the following barriers as greater than men: transportation (p = 0.025), family responsibilities (p = 0.039), lack of CR awareness (p = 0.036), experiencing exercise as tiring or painful (p = 0.002), and comorbidities (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, women do not perceive greater barriers to CR participation than men, but the nature of their barriers differs, particularly among nonparticipants. Beliefs about the value of CR, awareness, and exercise parameters are all modifiable barriers that should be addressed among women.

Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation Dose on Mortality and Morbidity: A Systematic Review and Meta-regression Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain the effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) dose (ie, duration × frequency/wk; categorized as low [<12 sessions], medium [12-35 sessions], or high [≥36 sessions]) on mortality and morbidity.

METHODS

The Cochrane, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE databases were systematically searched from inception through November 30, 2015. Inclusion criteria included randomized or nonrandomized studies with a minimum CR dose of 4 or higher and presence of a control/comparison group. Citations were considered for inclusion, and data were extracted in included studies independently by 2 investigators. Studies were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression where warranted (covariates included study quality, country, publication year, and diagnosis).

RESULTS

Of 4630 unique citations, 33 trials were included comparing CR to usual care (ie, no dose). In meta-regression, greater dose was significantly related to lower all-cause mortality (high: -0.77; SE, 0.22; P<.001; medium: -0.80; SE, 0.21; P<.001) when compared with low dose. With regard to morbidity, meta-analysis revealed that dose was significantly associated with fewer percutaneous coronary interventions (high: relative risk, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.50-0.84; medium/low: relative risk, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.74-1.48; between subgroup difference P=.03). This reduction was also significant in meta-regression (high vs medium/low: -0.73; SE, 0.20; P<.001). Publication bias was not evident. No dose-response association was found for cardiovascular mortality, all-cause hospitalization, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, or myocardial infarction.

CONCLUSION

A minimum of 36 CR sessions may be needed to reduce percutaneous coronary interventions. Future studies should examine the effect of actual dose of CR, and trials are needed comparing different doses.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION

CRD42016036029.

The occupational and psychosocial impact of SARS on academic physicians in three affected hospitals

A cross-sectional anonymous survey was administered to all directory-listed physicians within a network of three large teaching hospitals that provided care to SARS patients in Toronto. One hundred ninety-three physicians participated, 23% of whom provided direct care to SARS patients. A significantly higher rate of psychological distress was seen among physicians providing direct care to SARS patients (45.7%) than among those not providing direct care (17.7%), and physicians providing direct care reported feeling more stigmatized. Several physicians (10.9%) reported entering the hospital despite experiencing identified SARS symptoms. The most frequent SARS concerns were about the care of non-SARS patients following suspension of nonessential services and loss of physician income.

Gender differences in health information needs and decisional preferences in patients recovering from an acute ischemic coronary event

OBJECTIVE

This study examined gender differences in health information needs and decisional preferences after an acute ischemic coronary event (ICE).

METHODS

Patients with ICE, recruited in 12 coronary intensive care units, completed a questionnaire on demographic, disease-related, and psychosocial topics. Six and 12 months later, they completed mailed follow-up questionnaires.

RESULTS

Nine hundred six patients completed the baseline questionnaire, 541 (69%) completed the 6-month questionnaire, and 522 (64%) completed the 12-month questionnaire after hospital discharge. Men reported significantly more information received and greater satisfaction with healthcare practitioners meeting their information needs. Women wanted more information than men concerning angina and hypertension. Men wanted more information about sexual function and reported receiving more information about the role of each doctor, test results, treatments, cardiac rehabilitation, and how their families could support their lifestyle changes. Patients who reported receiving more information reported less depressive symptomatology and greater self-efficacy, healthcare satisfaction, and preventive health behaviors. Although most patients of both sexes preferred a shared decision-making role with their physician, the majority felt their doctor had made the main decisions.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients after ICE, especially women, reported receiving much less information than they wanted from all health professionals. Most patients wanted a shared or autonomous treatment decision-making role with their doctor, but only a minority experienced this. Clinicians must do better, because meeting patients' information needs and respecting their decisional preferences are shown to be associated with better self-efficacy, satisfaction, and health-promoting behavior.

Cardiac rehabilitation barriers by rurality and socioeconomic status: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Despite greater need, rural inhabitants and individuals of low socioeconomic status (SES) are less likely to undertake cardiac rehabilitation (CR). This study examined barriers to enrollment and participation in CR among these under-represented groups.

METHOD

Cardiac inpatients from 11 hospitals across Ontario were approached to participate in a larger study. Rurality was assessed by asking participants whether they lived within a 30-minute drive-time from the nearest hospital, with those >30 minutes considered "rural." Participants completed a sociodemographic survey, which included the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status. One year later, they were mailed a survey which assessed CR utilization and included the Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale. In this cross-sectional study, CR utilization and barriers were compared by rurality and SES.

RESULTS

Of the 1809 (80.4%) retained, there were 215 (11.9%) rural participants, and the mean subjective SES was 6.37 ± 1.76. The mean CRBS score was 2.03 ± 0.73. Rural inhabitants reported attending significantly fewer CR sessions (p < .05), and greater CR barriers overall compared to urban inhabitants (p < .01). Patients of lower subjective SES were significantly less likely to be referred, enroll, and participate in CR, and reported significantly greater barriers to CR compared to their high SES counterparts (p < .01). Prominent barriers for both groups included distance, cost, and transportation problems. These relationships sustained adjustment, and a significant relationship between having undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery and lower barriers was also identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirm that rural inhabitants and patients of low SES experience greater barriers to CR utilization when compared to their urban, high SES counterparts. It is time to implement known strategies to overcome these barriers, to achieve equitable and greater use of CR.

Systematizing inpatient referral to cardiac rehabilitation 2010: Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Canadian Cardiovascular Society joint position paper endorsed by the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario

Despite recommendations in clinical practice guidelines, evidence suggests cardiac rehabilitation (CR) referral and use following indicated cardiac events is low. Referral strategies such as systematic referral have been advocated to improve CR use. The objective of this policy position is to synthesize evidence and make recommendations on strategies to increase patient enrollment in CR. A systematic review of 6 databases from inception to January 2009 was conducted. Only primary, published, English-language studies were included. A meta-analysis was undertaken to synthesize the enrollment rates by referral strategy. In all, 14 studies met inclusion criteria. Referral strategies were categorized as systematic on the basis of use of systematic discharge order sets, as liaison on the basis of discussions with allied health care providers, or as other on the basis of patient letters. Overall, there were 7 positive studies, 5 without comparison groups, and 2 studies that reported null findings. The combined effect sizes of the meta-analysis were as follows: 73% (95% CI, 39%-92%) for the patient letters ("other"), 66% (95% CI, 54%-77%) for the combined systematic and liaison strategy, 45% (95% CI, 33%-57%) for the systematic strategy alone, and 44% (95% CI, 35%-53%) for the liaison strategy alone. In conclusion, the results suggest that innovative referral strategies increase CR use. Although patient letters look promising, evidence for this strategy is sparse and inconsistent at present. Therefore we suggest that inpatient units adopt systematic referral strategies, including a discussion at the bedside, for eligible patient groups in order to increase CR enrollment and participation. This approach should be considered best practice for further investigation.

Psychometric validation of the cardiac rehabilitation barriers scale

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale (CRBS).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In total, 2636 cardiac inpatients from 11 hospitals completed a survey. One year later, participants completed a follow-up survey, which included the CRBS. A subsample of patients also completed a third survey which included the CRBS, the Cardiac Rehabilitation Enrolment Obstacles scale, and the Beliefs About Cardiac Rehabilitation scale three weeks later. The CRBS asked participants to rate 21 cardiac rehabilitation barriers on a five-point Likert scale regardless of cardiac rehabilitation referral or enrolment.

RESULTS

Maximum likelihood factor analysis with oblique rotation resulted in a four-factor solution: perceived need/healthcare factors (eigenvalue = 6.13, Cronbach's α = .89), logistical factors (eigenvalue = 5.83, Cronbach's α = .88), work/time conflicts (eigenvalue = 3.78, Cronbach's α = .71), and comorbidities/functional status (eigenvalue = 4.85, Cronbach's α = .83). Mean total perceived barriers were significantly greater among non-enrollees than cardiac rehabilitation enrollees (P < .001). Convergent validity with the Beliefs About Cardiac Rehabilitation and Cardiac Rehabilitation Enrolment Obstacles scales was also demonstrated. Test-retest reliability of the CRBS was acceptable (intraclass correlation coefficient = .64).

CONCLUSION

The CRBS consists of four subscales and has sound psychometric properties. The extent to which identified barriers can be addressed to facilitate greater cardiac rehabilitation utilization warrants future study.

Cardiovascular disease in the Eastern Mediterranean region: epidemiology and risk factor burden

The Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) comprises 22 countries or territories spanning from Morocco in the west to Pakistan in the east, and contains a population of almost 600 million people. Like many other developing regions, the burden of disease in the EMR has shifted in the past 30 years from primarily communicable diseases to noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiovascular mortality in the EMR, mostly attributable to ischaemic heart disease, is expected to increase more dramatically in the next decade than in any other region except Africa. The most prominent CVD risk factors in this region include tobacco consumption, physical inactivity, depression, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Many individuals living in the EMR are unaware of their risk factor status, and even if treated, these risk factors are often poorly controlled. Furthermore, infrequent use of emergency medical services, delays in access to care, and lack of access to cardiac catheterization affects the timely diagnosis of CVD. Treatment of CVD is also suboptimal in this region, consisting primarily of thrombolysis, with insufficient provision of timely revascularization. In this Review, we summarize what is known about CVD burden, risk factors, and treatment strategies for individuals living in the EMR. This information will hopefully aid decision-makers when devising strategies on how to improve CVD prevention and management in this region.

Physician factors affecting cardiac rehabilitation referral and patient enrollment: a systematic review

Physicians play an important role in CR referral and enrollment. Despite established benefits and recommendations, cardiac rehabilitation (CR) enrollment rates are pervasively low. The reasons cardiac patients are missing from CR programs are multifactorial and include provider factors. A number of studies have now investigated physician factors associated with referral to CR programs and patient enrollment. The objective of this study was to qualitatively and systematically review this literature. A literature search of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, and EBM was conducted for published articles from database inception to October 2011. Overall, 17 articles were included following a process of independent review of each article by 2 authors. Seven (41.2%) were graded as good quality according to Downs and Black criteria. There were no randomized controlled trials. Results showed that medical specialty (ie, cardiac specialists more likely to refer; n = 8 studies) and other physician-reported reasons (eg, physician report of their reasons for CR referral and physician sex) were related to referral. Physician factors related to patient enrollment in CR were physician endorsement, medical specialty, being referred, and physician attitudes toward CR. Physician factors are consistently related to CR referral and enrollment. The role of physician endorsements in promoting patient enrollment should be optimized and exploited.