Hospital-based versus community-based shared care cardiac rehabilitation after acute coronary syndrome: protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION

Participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is poor although CR reduces morbidity and mortality. One way in which attendance may potentially be improved is by involving municipal health-care centres (MHCC) and the patient's general practitioner (GP) to a larger degree in a model of shared care cardiac rehabilitation (SC-CR). Our study tests the feasibility of SC-CR and compares the attendance and effects of SC-CR with the individually tailored hospital-based CR (H-CR) programme.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

After admission for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients are randomized to phase II CR which is conducted either as SC-CR or H-CR. During SC-CR the patient is seen once in-hospital after which the GP takes over. MHCC supports the GP by offering educational intervention regarding smoking cessation, exercise, nutrition and mental health. A total of 208 persons hospitalised due to acute coronary syndrome are to be randomized before hospital discharge.

CONCLUSION

The study aims to examine whether the organisation of SC-CR is feasible and provides the expected benefits.

FUNDING

The trial is funded by Region Central Denmark.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trials ID: NTC 01522001.