THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON CARDIAC REHABILITATION ATTENDANCE RATES AND ITS POTENTIAL EFFECT ON REOCCURING MYOCARDIAL INFARCTIONS AND MEDICAL CARE COSTS IN THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE AREA

Abstract

Cardiac rehabilitation is a vital source of therapy after a patient experiences a myocardial infarction. Cardiac rehabilitation aides in decreasing the risk of having a reoccurring myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study is to determine the changes in CR enrollment rates, dropout rates, and completion rates from pre lockdown to post lockdown. The secondary purpose of this study is to predict how these changes will affect potential increases in myocardial infarctions (MI) and hospital costs within the region. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, facilities shut down for weeks at a time and patients were unable to attend cardiac rehabilitation. Enrollment rates, completion rates, and dropout rates were compared between pre COVID-19 shutdown and post COVID-19 shutdown. Medical care costs were also estimated due to a potential increase in myocardial infarctions due to the shutdown. Out of the eight hospitals that were contacted, two facilities met the criteria and chose to participate. Results showed a significant decrease in enrollments (F(1,34) = 43.18, p= .000) and completion rates of a cardiac rehabilitation program (F(1,34) = 5.374, p= .027). The estimated increase of myocardial infarctions over the 16 month post shutdown period was 33.1 with an associated increased cost of $626,829.10. Since the shutdown from COVID-19, the Greater Nashville region can potentially see an increase in recurrent myocardial infarctions and an increase in medical care costs. A push for an increase in participation in a CR program will need to be addressed in order to alleviate the influx of heart attacks in the next few years.