Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction in Sweden–standards, costs, and adherence to European guidelines (The Perfect-CR study)

Aims: Information on standards including structure- and process-based metrics and how exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (EBCR) is delivered in relation to guidelines is lacking. The aims of the study were to evaluate standards and adherence to guidelines at Swedish CR centers and to conduct a cost analysis of the physiotherapy-related activities of EBCR. Methods and Results: EBCR standards at all 78 CR centers in Sweden in 2016 were surveyed. The questions were based on guideline-recommended core components of EBCR for patients after a myocardial infarction (MI). The cost analysis included the identification, quantification, and valuation of EBCR-related cost items. Patients were offered a pre-discharge consultation with a physiotherapist at n = 61, 78% of the centers. A pre-exercise screening visit was routinely offered at n = 64, 82% of the centers, at which a test of aerobic capacity was offered in n = 58, 91% of cases, most often as a cycle ergometer exercise test n = 55, 86%. A post-exercise assessment was offered at n = 44, 56% of the centers, with a functional test performed at n = 30, 68%. Almost all the centers n = 76, 97% offered supervised EBCR programs. The total cost of delivering physiotherapy-related activities of EBCR according to guidelines was approximately 437 euro (4,371 SEK) per patient. Delivering EBCR to one MI patient required 11.25 hours of physiotherapy time. Conclusion: While the overall quality of EBCR programs in Sweden is high, there are several areas of potential improvement to reach the recommended European standards across all centers. To improve the quality of EBCR, further compliance with guidelines is warranted.