Retrospective study of influence of deprivation on uptake of cardiac rehabilitation

摘要

Mortality from ischaemic heart disease is higher in Scotland than in most developed countries. Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction, incorporating exercise training and lifestyle counselling, can reduce mortality and the rate of fatal reinfarction and also improve quality of life. Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with both an increased risk of developing myocardial infarction and a poorer prognosis afterwards. Our aim was to determine whether deprivation affected uptake of rehabilitation after myocardial infarction.