Gender Disparities in Cardiac Rehabilitation Among Older Women: Key Opportunities to Improve Care

Clin Geriatr Med. 2019 Nov;35(4):587-594. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2019.07.012. Epub 2019 Jul 12.

Abstract

Older women with cardiovascular disease experience lower referral, participation, and completion rates of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), despite its well-established benefits (improved morbidity, mortality, quality of life, and functional capacity). Multiple social and health care system barriers affect participation of this population, including limitations in accessibility and transportation, competing responsibilities as caregivers, and lack of insight among patients and provider regarding the value of CR. With continued advances in technology and the ubiquity of smartphones, alternative CR programs may be able to better overcome barriers that affect older women.

Keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation; Elderly; Geriatric; Home-based; Women.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation / methods
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / therapy
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data*
  • Healthcare Disparities / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Needs Assessment
  • Referral and Consultation / statistics & numerical data*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sexism / statistics & numerical data*
  • United States