Aim: To evaluate the long-term secondary preventive effect of a comprehensive rehabilitation programme after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Methods: The study group included 49 consecutive patients who underwent bypass surgery and were then offered a rehabilitation programme consisting of education in risk-factor control, a physical training programme and regular follow-up at a post-CABG clinic. The control group (n = 98), consisting of two well-matched CABG patients for each study patient, was offered the usual care with no access to a cardiac rehabilitation programme. The two groups were followed for 10 years and the results regarding cardiovascular mortality, morbidity, total cardiac events and readmissions to hospital were compared.
Results: The total mortality (study group 8.2%, control group 20.4%) and cardiovascular mortality (8.2 versus 15.3%) after 10 years did not differ significantly between the groups. In the study group, nine patients (18.4%) had 10 cardiac events (four cardiovascular deaths, five non-fatal myocardial infarctions and one CABG) compared to 34 patients (34.7%, P < 0.05) suffering 46 (P < 0.01) cardiac events (15 cardiovascular deaths, 18 non-fatal myocardial infarctions, eight CABG, five coronary angioplasties) in the control group. The number of readmissions to hospital (2.1 versus 3.5 per patient) and length of admissions (11 versus 26 days per patient) was significantly lower in the study group (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: A comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programme offered to patients after coronary artery bypass surgery will improve the long-term prognosis and reduce the need for hospital care.