Cardiac Rehabilitation in the United Kingdom 1985/86: A questionnaire survey

Cardiac rehabilitation services in England were studied by a questionnaire sent to the superintendent physiotherapists in 132 Health Districts in England, with a noticeable lack of proper audit, and no formal follow-up by most centres.

Abstract

Cardiac rehabilitation services in England were studied by a questionnaire sent to the superintendent physiotherapists in 132 Health Districts in England; 98 (70%) were returned, and 46 gave details of established programmes. Most programmes included post-infarction and post-cardiac surgery patients of both sexes. Twenty-six (56%) operated age limits, and most recognised cardiac and other medical contraindications to rehabilitation. Courses usually began within four weeks of infarction and lasted up to 12 weeks, being held once or twice a week. Only a minority (38%) carried out a formal stress test prior to entry, and only 25% had a regular medical presence during therapy. Despite this, only 12 cardiac arrests and five reinfarctions were recorded. With a total experience of at least 10,000 patients, this indicates the relative safety of this type of programme. However there was a noticeable lack of proper audit, and no formal follow-up by most centres. The implications of these findings in the face of continuing pressures to establish cardiac rehabilitation services are discussed.