Quality of life following participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs of longer or shorter than 6 months: does duration matter?

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participation results in significant health benefits. However, there is wide variation in program duration, and little is known about the optimal duration of CR for patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to compare quality of life (QoL) of patients who participated in CR programs of < or ≥6 months duration versus patients who did not attend CR. A total of 1056 cardiac outpatients completed mailed surveys at baseline and 9 months later. Patients were categorized based on CR participation in one of 31 programs: a program of < or ≥6 months duration, or nonattendance. Outcomes were body mass index, activity status, depressive symptoms, physical activity, QoL, posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI), and percentage of CR sessions attended. Generalized estimating equations were used. A total of 148 (14%) patients participated in a program of < 6 months, and 183 (17.3%) participated in a program of ≥6 months. Patients who participated in the former completed a greater percentage of CR sessions (P = 0.02). Activity status (P = 0.002), several domains of QoL (P > 0.0001), and PTGI (P = 0.007) were significantly greater regardless of CR duration when compared to those who did not attend CR. There were no significant differences in outcomes when comparing patients attending CR programs of < or ≥6 months duration. Patients achieve greater activity status and QoL when compared to those who did not attend CR, regardless of program duration. This could be a result of greater program adherence among those who attend shorter programs. Future research is needed using a randomized design to assess effects of program duration on cardiac events and mortality.