Coronary disease & ACSCohort study
Health inequalities in cardiac rehabilitation: a national cohort study in England
- Retrospective cohort study
- national audit data (National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation (NACR))
Authors' conclusion
South Asians are more likely to participate but less likely to complete CR than White Europeans.
Study context
- Population
- Service users referred for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after MI, PCI or CABG in England, January 2014 to February 2023222,928 participated
- Participants
- 421,281 users
- Exposure
- South Asian vs White European service users
- South Asiann = 37,448
- White Europeann = 383,833reference
- Outcome
- CR participation and completion
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
South Asian vs White EuropeanAdjusted odds ratio (95% CI)
participation; adjusted for age, sex, IMD and co-morbidities
1.12(1.09–1.15)
completion; adjusted for age, sex, IMD and co-morbidities
0.78(0.75–0.82)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Overall participation and completion
- Participated
- 222,928 (53%)
- Completed, of participants
- 171,297 (77%)
Factors associated with non-completion
- Both groups: strongest associations were higher deprivation, diabetes and being single
- White European and South Asian men: stroke and depression also key factors
- White Europeans: respiratory conditions; South Asian men: rheumatism and family CV history
Original publication
Health inequalities in cardiac rehabilitation: a national cohort study in England. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 9 February 2026. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwag092
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it