%0 Journal Article
%T Cardiac rehabilitation in the elderly patient in eight rehabilitation units in Western Europe: Baseline data from the EU
%A Annette Holdgaard
%A Arnoud WJ Van 't Hof
%A Astrid E van der Velde
%A Carlos Peˋa Gil
%A Diego Ardissino
%A Ed P de Kluiver
%A Eike Schromm
%A Esther P Meindersma
%A Eva Prescott
%A Evelien K Kolkman
%A Feriel Moatemri
%A Jos谷 R Gonz芍lez-Juanatey
%A Leonie F Prins
%A Marie Christine Iliou
%A Matthias Wilhelm
%A Nicolai Mikkelsen
%A Prisca Eser
%A Steffen Schneider
%A Thimo Marcin
%A Uwe Zeymer
%J European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
%@ 2047-4881
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/2047487319839819
%X Due to the progressive deconditioning, comorbidities and higher complication rates, elderly patients are in particular need of cardiac rehabilitation. We compared elderly patients (65+ years old) participating in cardiac rehabilitation, focusing on baseline characteristics, risk factor control and functional assessment. The EU-CaRE study is a prospective study comparing cardiac rehabilitation in eight centres across Western Europe. Consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome, stable coronary artery disease and heart valve replacement undergoing cardiac rehabilitation were included. Of 1633 patients (median age 72 years) participating, 54% had acute coronary syndrome, 33% had stable coronary artery disease and 13% followed valve replacement. Fifty-five per cent had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention and 29% coronary artery bypass grafting. Characteristics varied across centres: 23% (17每27%) were women, 4% (0每12%) were of non-European origin and 16% (4每32%) were living alone. Median time from index event to start of cardiac rehabilitation varied from 11 to 49 days (pˋ<ˋ0.001). Mean VO2peak was relatively low (16ˋmL/kg per min) and varied significantly between the participating centres, largely unaffected by multivariable adjustment. Overall patients received guideline recommended treatment: 93% (87每97%) were on a statin and 70% (55每85%) an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker. However, risk factor control was inadequate: 58% had three or more risk factors not controlled. EU-CaRE provides a snapshot of the elderly population with heart disease participating in cardiac rehabilitation across countries in Western Europe. Risk factors and exercise capacity indicate the continued need for cardiac rehabilitation in these patients. Of concern, the lag-time to start of cardiac rehabilitation needs improvement in many centres
%K Elderly
%K coronary heart disease
%K heart valve replacement
%K cardiorespiratory fitness
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2047487319839819