Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease (Feb 2016)

Elderly patient-centered rehabilitation after cardiac surgery

  • Antonio Mazza,
  • Federica Camera,
  • Antonella Maestri,
  • Francesco Longoni,
  • Anna Patrignani,
  • Alessandra Gualco,
  • Cristina Opasich,
  • Franco Cobelli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2007.467
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 68, no. 1

Abstract

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The rate of over-70 year post-surgery patients referred to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Units is increasing. Strategies designed to encourage and facilitate participation in rehabilitation programs in the elderly should be developed. Aim of this paper is to present our elderly-centered program, specifically designed on patient’s needs and frailty, and its short- and medium-term results in 160 consecutive over-70 year patients, admitted in our Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit soon after cardiac surgery. The program was safe, well accepted by the patients, and effective in improving objective and subjective functional status.

Keywords