Long-term risk factor management after inpatient cardiac rehabilitation by means of a structured post-care programme.

Background: Initiation of a long-term improvement of cardiac risk factors is one of the major aims of a cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programme.

Methods and participants: The Health Guide collected data in terms of cardiac risk factors: blood pressure, resting pulse, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, body weight, physical activity and number of cigarettes at admission and discharge after a stationary rehabilitation programme and every 3 months. After 12 months the Health Guides were returned. In the prospective study 2664 patients (71.8% men, age: MV = 62.94 years, SD = 9.96; 28% women, MV = 67.59 years, SD = 9.53) with coronary heart disease (CHD) were included.

Results: All cardiac risk factors documented by the Health Guide improved during the cardiac rehabilitation programme. After one year, risk factors were significantly lower than at admission, apart from total cholesterol. The individual goal in terms of body weight and LDL cholesterol was partially achieved after the rehabilitation programme and maintained after one year. In the investigation years, 2004-2007, the cholesterol and blood pressure were significantly lower than in the years 2000-2003.

Conclusion: The use of a Health Guide resulted in an improved long-term effect of a cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programme. It is a simple and cheap intervention and can help in the guidance of the patients.