title: Safety and predictors of adherence of a new rehabilitation program for older women with congestive heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety of a cardiac rehabilitation program for older women with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and determine if certain factors influence adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women over the age of 65 with CHF attended an exercise program supervised by a physiotherapist. Quality of life was measured by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and severity of disease by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class. Subjects were classified into those who attended 90% or more of the sessions and those who attended less than 90% of the sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one subjects were studied. Eight subjects did not attend any sessions. Of the 43 attendees, the average percentage of sessions attended was 87%. There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, MLHFQ or NYHA Class. There was only one adverse event out of 280 participant attendances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The program had a high level of adherence in this population. Age, MLHFQ or NYHA Class did not impact on session attendance. Our data suggests this program is safe for this population. Further research is needed to determine other predictors of attendance and the examination of safety issues and long-term adherence to exercise in this population.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Assessment Unit, Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus 1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4E9, Canada.
authors.forename: Nahid A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Azad
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayhew
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Molnar
keywords: Adherence; Congestive heart failure; Elderly women; Exercise