Barriers to cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction: Bordeaux university hospital example.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular disease is the first cause of death in developed countries. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) plays an important role in secondary prevention, especially after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Despite the high recommendation for its prescription, less than a third of eligible patients participate in France. We sought to assess the role of the CR in the management of ACS in Cardiology Haut-Leveque hospital and identify obstacles to its prescription.

MATERIAL/PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective and observational study, a questionnaire about CR was completed by cardiologists for each patient admitted for an ACS in our institution, from June to October 2014.

RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty-six patients were included (80% men, mean age: 65 years, 254 non ST elevation ACS). Two hundred and two patients (44.3%) were sent to CR. Among them, 44 patients (23%) did not make it. The factors of non-orientation were mainly related to the patient (65%) (comorbidities or lack of motivation).

DISCUSSION - CONCLUSION: Barriers to prescription CR are numerous, mainly related to patients' comorbidities or lack of motivation (patient and doctor both).