Low 6-Minute Walk Distance and Muscle Mass Predict Drop out in Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation after percutaneous coronary intervention decreases recurrence and mortality but has a high dropout rate. The aim of this study is to identify dropout predictors by comparing the characteristics of complete and dropout patients in cardiac rehabilitation. The study included 593 patients (455 men and 138 women) who received percutaneous coronary intervention and were enrolled in a 1-year cardiac rehabilitation program consisting of home-based cardiac rehabilitation with three center visits. Dropout was defined as participation in the first center visit but not the second or third center visits. Blood lipids, quality of life, socioeconomic status, and 6-minute walk distance measurements at the first visit were compared between participants who completed and dropped out of cardiac rehabilitation. For both men and women, the dropout rate significantly correlated with a low 6-minute walk distance and low muscle mass ratio. The dropout rate was significantly higher for men, but not women, with low education and low income. However, the dropout rate was decreased for women, but not men, with low blood pressure and triglycerides. An improved understanding of the characteristics of participants and the cardiac rehabilitation dropout rate are expected to contribute to the development of cardiac rehabilitation strategies that decrease patient dropout.