Capacity and equity in cardiac rehabilitation in the eastern region: good and bad news.
OBJECTIVE
To document current baseline eligibility for Phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and the capacity to meet this need in hospitals in the Eastern Regional Health Authority.


METHODS
Information on the eligible population and the capacity for CR was collected in all nine hospitals retrospectively (February-March 2001).


RESULTS
Forty-seven per cent of eligible patients were invited to participate with only two-thirds attending. Completion rates were very high (89%) in attenders. Age and health board area were significant independent predictors of being invited to CR. Gender was not independent of age. Fifty-three per cent of the need for this service was met by capacity in the region's nine hospitals in 2000 rising to 59% in 2002.


CONCLUSIONS
Many eligible patients are not invited to CR. Lack of capacity is a problem. Among the invited, non-participation is a factor. Inequity in age and inter-hospital variation in invitation is noted.
Jennings
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Department of Public Health, Eastern Regional Health Authority, Dublin, Ireland. siobhanjennings@erha.ie
Carey
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D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome