title: Long-term risk factor management after inpatient cardiac rehabilitation by means of a structured post-care programme.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Initiation of a long-term improvement of cardiac risk factors is one of the major aims of a cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Health Guide collected data in terms of cardiac risk factors: blood pressure, resting pulse, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, body weight, physical activity and number of cigarettes at admission and discharge after a stationary rehabilitation programme and every 3 months. After 12 months the Health Guides were returned. In the prospective study 2664 patients (71.8% men, age: MV = 62.94 years, SD = 9.96; 28% women, MV = 67.59 years, SD = 9.53) with coronary heart disease (CHD) were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cardiac risk factors documented by the Health Guide improved during the cardiac rehabilitation programme. After one year, risk factors were significantly lower than at admission, apart from total cholesterol. The individual goal in terms of body weight and LDL cholesterol was partially achieved after the rehabilitation programme and maintained after one year. In the investigation years, 2004-2007, the cholesterol and blood pressure were significantly lower than in the years 2000-2003.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a Health Guide resulted in an improved long-term effect of a cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programme. It is a simple and cheap intervention and can help in the guidance of the patients.
authors: Sonderkrankenanstalt-Rehabilitationszentrum St Radegund, Pensionsversicherung, Austria.
authors: Birgit M
authors: BM
authors: Harb
authors: Manfred
authors: M
authors: Wonisch
authors: Dieter
authors: D
authors: Brandt
authors: Rudolf
authors: R
authors: Müller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D007297:Inpatients; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids