Inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program in the elderly patients: effect on psychological factors

Background/aim: Although the impact of rehabilitation programs on the psychological status of patients with coronary artery disease has been shown more or less in studies, the impact of these interventions in older patients has been less widely considered. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of inpatient cardiac rehabilitation on the depression, anxiety and stress of elderly patients with coronary artery disease. Materials and methods: the present study was a two group’s quasi-experimental study. Seventy elderly were selected through convenient sampling and were divided into two groups. The intervention group received the inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program, daily, for 4 days. The short form of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Questionnaire (DASS-21) was completed for patients in both groups. Results: There was a significant difference in the level of stress in the two groups (P=0.000), but the mean of depression and anxiety did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program is effective in decreasing the stress level of elderly patients with coronary artery disease admitted in intensive care unit. This program failed to alter the level of depression and anxiety in these patients.