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Table 4 Study characteristics: Cardiac rehabilitation

From: Reducing wait time from referral to first visit for community outpatient services may contribute to better health outcomes: a systematic review

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.

  1. QOL Quality of life
  2. acriteria not met
  3. bcriteria partially met
  4. ccriteria met in full