Author | Study quality | Setting | Participants/ client group. N | Study design | Waiting times compared | Outcome Measures | Key Findings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aamot et al. (2010) [44] | Sampleb Measurec Analysisc | Cardiac rehab program, Norway | Myocardial infarction N = 39 | Randomised Control Trial: 2 groups | Short Wait: Immediate Long wait: 4 week delay | 1. Exercise tolerance 2. QOL | Wait time not associated with exercise tolerance. |
Fell et al. (2016) [46] | Samplec Measurec Analysisc | Outpatient cardiac rehab, UK | Acute coronary syndrome. N = 32,899 | Retrospective cohort study | Short wait: 0–28 days Long wait: 29–365 days | 1. Physical activity 2. QOL 3. Exercise tolerance | Shorter wait time associated with improvement in QOL and exercise tolerance. Wait time not associated with physical activity. |
Johnson et al. (2014) [47] | Samplec Measureb Analysisc | Outpatient cardiac rehab, USA | Patients following interventions for cardiac disease. N = 1241 | Retrospective cohort study | Short wait: 0–15 days Intermediate wait: 16–30 days Long wait: > 30 days | 1. Exercise tolerance | Shorter wait time associated with improvement in exercise tolerance. |
Kehler et al. (2017) [48] | Sampleb Measurec Analysisc | Outpatient cardiac rehab, Canada | Cardiac events. N = 60 | Prospective observational cohort study | Short wait: ≤ 60 days Long wait: >  60 days | 1. Physical activity 2. Exercise tolerance 3. Depressive symptoms | Shorter wait time associated with improvement in exercise tolerance. Wait time not associated with physical activity or depressive symptoms. |
Marzolini et al. (2015) [50] | Samplec Measureb Analysisc | Outpatient cardiac rehab, Canada | Post coronary bypass graft surgery. N = 6497 | Retrospective cohort study | Short wait: ≤60 days Long wait: 241–365 days | 1. Exercise tolerance | Shorter wait time associated with improvement in exercise tolerance. |
Pack et al. (2013) [43] | Sampleb Measurec Analysisc | Outpatient cardiac rehab, USA | Patients with non-surgical cardiac diagnosis. N = 148 | Randomised controlled trial | Short wait: ≤10 days Long wait: 35 days | 1. Exercise tolerance | Wait time not associated with exercise tolerance. |