Prevention & lipids

Temporal trends in sociodemographic and risk factors among patients enrolled in cardiovascular rehabilitation over 25 years

Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin OutcomesPublished retrospective cohort study

Authors' conclusion

Despite encouraging trends toward greater diversity, females, non-White individuals, and those with lower educational attainment remain underrepresented in CR, highlighting persistent equity gaps in enrollment. Additionally, encouraging improvements were observed in key cardiometabolic and behavioural risk factors, including lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels, reduced physical inactivity, and fewer anxiety symptoms.

Study context

Population
Patients with cardiovascular diseases who enrolled in a cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) program at Canada's largest cardiovascular health centre between 2001 and 2025
Participants
40,822 patients
Exposure
Temporal trends in sociodemographic characteristics, cardiometabolic risk factors, and health behaviours between 2001 and 2025
Outcome
Age
Follow-up
Annually

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Participant age increasing annually

0.3 years

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

OutcomeOR (95% CI)P value
Odds of being female · over time1.004 (1.001–1.008)P = 0.02
Odds of being non-White · over time1.02 (1.01–1.03)P < 0.001
Odds of being not married · over time1.02 (1.02–1.03)P < 0.001
Odds of being occupationally inactive · over timeDecreased over time0.95 (0.94–0.96)P < 0.001
Low moderate-to-vigorous physical activity · over timeDeclined over time0.98 (0.98–0.99)P < 0.001
Moderate-to-high anxiety symptoms · over timeDeclined over time0.98 (0.98–0.99)P < 0.001
OutcomeAnnual change (95% CI)P value
Systolic blood pressure · annualDecrease−0.37 (−0.41 - −0.33)P < 0.001
LDL cholesterol · annualDecrease−0.02 (−0.02 - −0.02)P < 0.001

Baseline characteristics

Mean (SD) age
63 (13) years
Females
30.7%
With coronary artery disease
59.5%

Cardiovascular condition

Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease
59%
Valvular heart disease
14%
Arrhythmias
10%

Original publication

Temporal trends in sociodemographic and risk factors among patients enrolled in cardiovascular rehabilitation over 25 years. Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. Published 24 September 2026. doi:10.1093/ehjqcco/qcag150

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