Identification of bio-psycho-social predictors of effective cardiac rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation involves coordinated physical, psychological and social intervention with the aim of secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Optimal cardiac rehabilitation achieves slower progression and possibly stabilisation of the course of the disease through the targeted reduction of individual cardiovascular risk factors. In the long term, effective cardiac rehabilitation reduces the risk of mortality for patients and improves their quality of life.

At the same time, however, it is known that a significant proportion of patients who participate in cardiac rehabilitation programmes do not fully benefit from the therapy. Accordingly, the prognosis of so-called "low responders" or "non-responders" is significantly worse. The influencing factors that modulate the success of cardiac rehabilitation are not fully known and there is no individual optimisation of the therapy.

The aim of the research project is therefore to gain insights into the various bio-psycho-social influencing factors that significantly modulate the treatment outcome of patients and thus determine the further prognosis as part of a long-term observational study. The study will also focus in particular on the influence of gender-specific differences on treatment success. As a result, patients with a poor prognosis can be identified at an early stage and the treatment concept can be customised at suitable points. Based on the expected findings, treatment success could also be significantly increased across the board in the future in order to further reduce rehospitalisation and mortality.