Cardiac arrest & resuscitation

Non-enrolment and non-completion of cardiac rehabilitation among survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with ischaemic aetiology: a nationwide register-based cohort study

ResuscitationPublished nationwide Danish register-based cohort study

Authors' conclusion

A large proportion of OHCA survivors of ischaemic aetiology either did not enrol in or did not complete cardiac rehabilitation. The findings underscore the need for systematic referral to cardiac rehabilitation after OHCA and more tailored rehabilitation approaches.

Study context

Population
Adults surviving ≥30 days after a first-time out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) of ischaemic aetiology between 2019 and 2023OHCA survivors included
Participants
1,684 adults
Exposure
Association between non-enrolment and non-completion, respectively, and sociodemographic parameters of age, sex, cohabitation, comorbidity, education, and employment
Outcome
Non-enrolment in CR

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Overall did not enrol in CR

55%

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Odds of non-enrolment by sociodemographic characteristics

OR (95% CI)
RetiredHigher odds of non-enrolment; comparator not stated · Multivariable logistic regression1.74 (1.42–2.44)
Higher educationLower odds of non-enrolment; comparator not stated · Multivariable logistic regression0.76 (0.55–0.98)
Moderate/severe comorbidityLower odds of non-enrolment; comparator not stated · Multivariable logistic regression0.53 (0.43–0.65)

Non-completion of the programme, among those who enrolled

Among those who enrolled, did not complete the programme
50%

Non-enrolment, temporal trend

Non-enrolment in 2020-2022
60-62%
Non-enrolment in 2023
43%

Non-completion by sociodemographic characteristics

No sociodemographic characteristics were significantly associated with non-completion

Original publication

Non-enrolment and non-completion of cardiac rehabilitation among survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with ischaemic aetiology: a nationwide register-based cohort study. Resuscitation. Published 6 October 2026. doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2026.111343

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