title: [Outpatient cardiac phase III rehabilitation at a Viennese institution - retrospective cohort study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This retrospective cohort study analyses effectiveness and sustainability of the current cardiac Phase III (Ph-III) rehabilitation program, provided by the Centre for Outpatient Rehabilitation (ZAR).
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed routine data of 451 intervention group patients (IG, with Ph-III) and 781 control group patients (KG, without Ph-III).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a median observation period of 2.73 years we found 30% less cases of death in the IG based on the mortality risk observed in the KG (rr = 0.70; p = 0.108). However, we registered more re-events, mainly stent implantations in the IG (rr = 1.34; p = 0.095). Groups differed in some baseline characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lower mortality risk by trend might be explained by the close-meshed care, the IG patients' more health conscious behaviour or a selection bias of the KG (e.g. more severe underlying disease). The causality of potential positive effects cannot be confirmed by this study because of the study design.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Health Technology Assessment, Wien, Austria. brigitte.piso@hta.lbg.ac.at
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Piso
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tüchler
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gyimesi
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kollmann
authors.forename: Gottfried
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Endel
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wilbacher
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001317:Austria; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult