Cardiac rehabilitation referral and completion: results from the South Australian minimum dataset for cardiac rehabilitation programs

Background: An audit of South Australian (SA) cardiac rehabilitation (CR) services in 2012 reported a completion rate of 13% and led to the establishment of a minimum dataset (MDS). Using the MDS, this study describes referral and completion rates in metropolitan (metro) and country CR services in 2013 and secondly, validates the MDS by assessing potential referrals for CR using hospital separation data.

Methods: The SA Cardiac Clinical Network in collaboration with the SA Heart Foundation formulated a working group of key stakeholders. CR elements for the MDS were agreed upon according to domains in international guidelines. Data collection began in 2013 across 6 metro and 8 country services. Hospital separation data for 2013 admissions for acute coronary syndrome and/or cardiac intervention/surgery was used to validate the MDS collection.

Results: In 2013, 5329 (28% female, 4.5% Aboriginal, mean age 65±13 years) patients were assessed for CR referral. Hospital separation data from participating services showed 5321 admissions, verifying the MDS collection.

Conclusion: The establishment of a CR MDS in South Australia has provided unique insight into service gaps. Country referrals are managed via a centralised system and suggest that a central referral service may improve uptake into programs.