title: Cardiac rehabilitation for women across the lifespan.
abstract: Cardiac rehabilitation improves function and compliance and also reduces morbidity and mortality in female and male cardiovascular disease patients but remains significantly underutilized. At every age, and especially in their senior years, female cardiovascular disease patients are under-referred relative to men. Lack of standardized referral processes, misconceptions by physicians and patients, and idiosyncrasies of female pathophysiology contribute to this pattern. Moreover, confounding factors of age, socioeconomic status, and sex-specific roles and responsibilities exacerbate the problem. This review summarizes barriers to cardiac rehabilitation for female cardiac patients, and highlights opportunities for increased participation and benefit.
authors: New England Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, MA, USA.
authors: Karla M
authors: KM
authors: Daniels
authors: Ross
authors: R
authors: Arena
authors: Carl J
authors: CJ
authors: Lavie
authors: Daniel E
authors: DE
authors: Forman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010820:Physicians; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D012934:Social Isolation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D014481:United States; D015431:Weight Loss; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL