Effectiveness of currently available cardiac rehabilitation programmes from 8 European institutes in elderly patients.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are still the leading cause of death in Europe and a major cause of disability and loss of productivity in adults worldwide, this comes down to more than 4 million deaths each year in Europe. The substantial burden of CVD is further exemplified by a huge economic strain. Costs of CVD in the European Union (EU) are estimated at €169 billion annually, with healthcare costs accounting for 54% of the costs.
Literature shows that cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is highly effective, but knowledge on the effectiveness of individual CR components and appropriateness for specific patient groups is limited. With the ageing population and high survival rates from CVD due to improved technologies, there is growing need to a more tailored approach for different patient groups, like the elderly, within cardiac care. CR is currently underused by elderly and the effects of these programmes are underestimated by professionals. This group of people is often characterised by physical impairment, comorbidities and reduced mobility. The current approach of CR is often less appropriate for the elderly, and as a result of which effectiveness, compliance, participation levels and cost-utility of CR programmes is hampered.



Therefore the aim of this observational study is to obtain the evidence base to improve CR programmes regarding sustainable effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and participation level in elderly patients, by comparing 8 currently available CR programmes. The sustainability of CR programmes will be analysed by adding a follow-up period after the end of the regular CR programmes.

Null hypothesis: the 8 centres with different cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes do not differ from each other with regards to the effectiveness.

Patients will be monitored at

T0: start of CR programme

T1: end of CR programme

T2: after 12 months

Not applicable.