Background: Completion of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR)
program post cardiac disease event promotes successful
recovery and subsequent cardiovascular health. Attrition
rates for CR programs have been reported as high as 65%.
Little is known about the attrition population.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe
demographic and clinical variables associated with
non-completion of CR and to identify factors that led to
attrition.
Methods: A comparative retrospective survey design was
used to identify differences in demographic and clinical
variables between patients who completed CR and those
who did not. Prospectively, CR participants who dropped
out received follow-up calls to identify reasons for program
cessation.
Results: Demographic variables were not significantly
different between the attrition group and the control
group. Having a normal ECG during a pre-program stress
test and having higher levels of pre-program stress were
significant for the attrition group. The most common
reason for dropping out was physical health problems.
Other influential factors included patients’ perception that
the exercise component of the program was too difficult
and personal perceptions and reactions to the program.
Implications: Patients entering CR who present in better
physical risk categories with higher home or occupational
stress levels may be at risk for dropping out. CR staff
should monitor patients early for personal reactions to the
program along with their response to physical exercise in
order to address issues that promote program attrition.