Impact of Musculoskeletal Limitations on Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation.

To help clarify a potential barrier to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participation we sought to examine the association between musculoskeletal limitations (MSLs) and CR enrollment and participation. Consecutive CR eligible individuals hospitalized for a cardiac event (myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, and/or coronary artery bypass graft) between the months of November 2007 and May 2008, were asked to complete a mailed survey within 2 weeks after hospital discharge, assessing demographic factors, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), participation in CR and MSLs through a validated MSLs screening tool. CR enrollment rates were compared between patients with and without MSLs.

Rates of enrollment for men and women referred to outpatient cardiac rehabilitation.

Objective: Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) services are underutilized. Fewer women participate in CR than men. It is unclear whether women referred to CR enroll at the same rate as men.