[Progress of Rehabilitation for Cardiac Patients Depending on the Degree of Self-Sufficiency at Admission].

INTRODUCTION: There are hardly any publications about the outcome of cardiac rehabilitation considering patients with an increased need for medical, nursing and therapeutic care. The aim of this study, which consecutively included n=387 statutory health insurance inpatients over a period of 2 years, was to find out differences in outcome in self-care patients (Barthel index>70) as compared to patients with a need for complex care (Barthel index≤70).

METHODS: Rehabilitation outcomes concerning physical capacity, emotional status and activities of daily living as measured by Barthel index, FIM index, HADS, clinical complications, exercise test, duration of rehabilitation and form of dismission were analyzed and compared between both groups.

RESULTS: The inpatients with a Barthel index ≤70 at admission were older, had a longer stay in hospital and in rehabilitation, developed more complications and more often suffered from concomitant diseases. They were readmitted to hospital more often. They showed a comparatively higher increase in indices of self-care and a significant increase in physical performance tests.

CONCLUSION: Higher medical care expenses of multimorbid cardiac inpatients are no contraindication against rehabilitation, because even in this group the specific rehabilitation aims of the healthcare payers can be reached.