Comparison of cardiac rehabilitation outcomes in individuals with respiratory, cardiac or no comorbidities: A retrospective review

Abstract

Although currently major contributors to morbidity and mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are projected to rank among the top three in global disease burden by 2020. Multimorbidity is a common feature in CVD and chronic respiratory disease, and patients often share the same pathological characteristics including anatomical location of disease, dyspnea and fatigue, among several others. However, patients entering rehabilitation programs for either condition are functionally diverse; therefore, individuals with respiratory comorbidities may not fare as well in cardiac rehabilitation programs. This retrospective cohort study investigated several relevant functional parameters and outcomes.