Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation in Austria

The aim of this prospective trial is the manifestation of guidelines developed for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in Austria.

The evaluation of prospective and retrospective data is supposed to give evidence on morbidity and/or mortality advantages compared to patients not participating in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

The database created in this context is supposed to pave the way as instrument to document and comprehend quality and cost effectiveness of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in Austria as a key for quality management.

Inclusion Criteria:

• heart disease

Exclusion Criteria:

• participation in another study within the previous 6 months
• Medical conditions which prevent patients from complying with the exercise program
• Acute infections
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Pulmonary artery embolism or phlebothrombosis within the previous 6 months
• Unstable angina pectoris
• Heart failure (NYHA IV)
• Hemodynamically unstable arrhythmia