Comparative optimism among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) is associated with fewer adverse clinical events 12 months later.

The current study evaluates the levels of comparative optimism among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and examines its relationship to health outcomes 12 months later. 164 patients completed self-report questionnaires at the end of cardiac rehabilitation and the number of adverse clinical events in the following 12 months were recorded. Comparative optimism was assessed in relation to a typical other who has not had cardiac event, a typical other who has had the same cardiac event as the respondent, and a typical member of the cardiac rehabilitation class.

Four-week multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation produces similar improvements in exercise capacity and quality of life to a 10-week program.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is widely accepted as beneficial for patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). A need exists to evaluate how different formats of delivery can best meet CR service demands.

Methods And Results: Cardiac patients (n = 60) were randomly assigned to either a standard 10-week (30 sessions) or a 4-week (20 sessions) multifactorial rehabilitation program.

Rates of smoking in the households of cardiac patients.

Background: Non-smokers who live with smokers are at increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). However, such a risk may be increased if the non-smoker is a patient with established CHD. The present study assessed the percentage of cardiac rehabilitation patients who share a household with regular smokers.