Cardiac rehabilitation reduces risk of death years after heart surgery, still underutilized

More targeted efforts are needed to improve participation, researchers say

5:00 AM

Author | Noah Fromson

person walking on treadmill
Getty Images

For millions of Americans who have heart surgery or experience cardiovascular complications, like heart attack or heart failure, they may be encouraged to participate in cardiac rehabilitation.

The medically supervised program combines lifestyle changes, education and physical activity to help patients recover and reduce their risk of future problems.

A Michigan Medicine study now finds that people who participate in cardiac rehabilitation have a decreased risk of death years after surgery, with a trend towards better outcomes in patients who attend more sessions.

Time and time again, cardiac rehabilitation has been shown to improve outcomes and quality of life for patients undergoing heart surgery, yet we often fall short in getting patients to attend,” senior author Michael P. Thompson, Ph.D., assistant professor of cardiac surgery at University of Michigan Medical School.

SEE ALSO: Death, hospital readmission more likely for Black patients after coronary stenting

Researchers explored over 6,400 Medicare fee-for-service claims linked to clinical registry data to assess cardiac rehabilitation use by Michigan residents after coronary artery bypass grafting, a procedure commonly called heart bypass, between 2015 and late 2019.

The surgery improves blood flow to the heart by connecting a healthy artery or vein from another part of the body to a portion of the coronary artery that is blocked.

The multicenter study concluded that patients who underwent cardiac rehabilitation after heart bypass surgery had a 3-5% absolute reduced mortality rate in the two years following the procedure. The greatest reduction in mortality was found in patients who completed 36 or more sessions, which is the recommended number for coronary artery bypass grafting patients.   

“While attending any cardiac rehabilitation session was better than none at all, our data highlight that patients received a greater benefit when they attended more sessions,” Thompson said. “Focusing on both attendance and adherence to cardiac rehabilitation will benefit patients.”

The patients who tended to participate in cardiac rehab after coronary artery bypass grafting were older on average, discharged to their home more often than an extended care facility and spent less time in the hospital.

“While attending any cardiac rehabilitation session was better than none at all, our data highlight that patients received a greater benefit when they attended more sessions."

Michael P. Thompson, Ph.D.

Just over half of patients attended a single session of cardiac rehabilitation, and only 12% of those patients completed all 36 sessions. This occurred despite health systems referring patients to the program 94% of the time.

“Our findings suggest that referral alone is not sufficient to ensure participation, and quality improvement efforts targeted at improving participation are needed,” said first author Tyler M. Bauer, M.D., general surgery resident at U-M Health.

SEE ALSO: Cardiac Rehab at Home Helps Patient During COVID-19 Pandemic

The gap between cardiac rehabilitation referral and actual use needs to be closed in order to give every patient the best chance and living longer and healthier lives.”

After accounting for patient risk factors, only 5% of the variation in cardiac rehab use was attributable to the hospital at which a patient had a procedure.

In a 2022 study, Michigan Medicine researchers found that Black patients who underwent stenting or balloon angioplasty for clogged arteries were referred to cardiac rehabilitation at significantly lower rates than white patients.

Women, minorities, older adults and those with additional medical conditions are all under-referred to cardiac rehab, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Minority and underserved populations face many barriers to cardiac rehab, but improving referral, attendance, and adherence in these populations may be an effective strategy to mitigating longstanding disparities in cardiovascular outcomes,” Thompson said.

Additional authors include, Temililaoluwa Daramola, M.D., Alexandra I. Mansour, Gorav Ailawadi, M.D. Francis D. Pagani, M.D., Ph.D., and Donald S. Likosky, Ph.D., all of U-M Health, Steven J. Keteyian, Ph.D, of Henry Ford Health, Jessica M. Yaser, of the Michigan Value Collaborative, and Patricia Theurer, B.S.N., of the Michigan Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons Quality Collaborative.

Thompson receives funding from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for his role as Co-Director of the Michigan Value Collaborative. This study was supported by a grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (K01HS027830). Likosky reports a relationship with Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that includes: funding grants. The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect those of AHRQ, NIH or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, BCBSM, or its employees.

Paper cited: “Cardiac Rehabilitation Reduces Two-Year Mortality After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting,” The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. DOI: 0.1016/j.athoracsur.2023.05.044


More Articles About: Cardiac Rehabilitation Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) Cardiovascular: Diseases & Conditions Heart disease Cardiovascular: Preventive Cardiology Cardiovascular: Treatment & Surgery
Health Lab word mark overlaying blue cells
Health Lab

Explore a variety of health care news & stories by visiting the Health Lab home page for more articles.

Media Contact Public Relations

Department of Communication at Michigan Medicine

[email protected]

734-764-2220

Stay Informed

Want top health & research news weekly? Sign up for Health Lab’s newsletters today!

Subscribe
Featured News & Stories heart organ yellow blue
Health Lab
Older adults from distressed communities attend less cardiac rehab after heart procedures
Older adults who live in disadvantaged communities are less likely to attend cardiac rehabilitation after common heart procedures, a Michigan Medicine-led study finds.
clinical team and patient standing together
Health Lab
Planting a tree, and hope, for a heart healthy future
A complex mitral valve repair by Michigan Medicine cardiac specialists helps restore health and happiness to one Michigan patient and his family.
surgeon dark room over surgery patient on hospital table
Health Lab
Women more likely than men to die after heart surgery complications
Despite having no greater chance of developing problems after high risk cardiovascular surgery, women are more likely than men to die from post-operative complications, a University of Michigan-led study suggests.
young adult man standin infront of welcome to michigan yellow sign and a photo next to that one of him sitting with a man standing next to him in glasses and UM badge and button down light blue shirt
Health Lab
Timely CPR saves runner who collapsed during first week of college
Bystander CPR saves a first year college student who collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest while running during his first week of school.
three students standing on stairs in Michigan shirts
Health Lab
From babies needing heart surgeries to Michigan Wolverines
After long congenital heart journeys at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and U-M Health West, three 2024 Grand Rapids area high school graduates are back at University of Michigan: this time, as official Michigan Wolverines.
Survival flight pilots and person standing by helicopter smiling
Health Lab
Motivational speaker reunites with Survival Flight nurses after sudden aortic dissection
A father and motivational speaker, who experienced an urgent heart problem, reunites with his Survival Flight nurses who helped save his life