When compared to virtual cardiac rehabilitation, center-based cardiac rehabilitation was associated with a 38.4% higher hospital readmission rate, according to a study published Dec. 14 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers from Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Health Heart and Vascular Institute compared outcomes and costs of center-based cardiac rehabilitation patient data from January 2018 to September 2023 with virtual cardiac rehabilitation patient data from July 2021 to September 2023.
Here are five notes from their analysis:
- A patient must have been diagnosed with a condition that qualified them for cardiac rehabilitation for their data to be included in the analysis.
- Compared to virtual cardiac rehabilitation, center-based cardiac rehabilitation was associated with a 38.4% higher one-year all-cause hospital readmission rate and a 44.3% higher emergency department admission rate.
- Medically related costs in the virtual cardiac rehabilitation group were, on average, 18.6% lower compared to the center-based group. Total costs allowed were 16.2% lower for the virtual cardiac rehabilitation group. Allowed costs include the combined payments by insurers and members on a claim
- There was no significant difference found between the rates of recurrent myocardial infarction and all‐cause mortality between virtual cardiac rehabilitation and center‐based cardiac rehabilitation.
- Virtual cardiac rehabilitation "represents a key mechanism for improving access to and participation in cardiac rehabilitation for eligible patients," the study authors wrote.
Read the full study here.