Grant: Doctoral Research Award - PA - Nursing Intervention Research

The population of Canadian adults 65 years and older is expected to rapidly increase in the next decade. Given the natural trajectory of the aging process, varying degrees of deterioration in the cardiovascular system are anticipated in this population. Currently, older adults represent 85% of Canadian people with established cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Canada. A well-accepted secondary prevention modality for CVD is cardiac rehabilitation therapy (CR). CR involves interventions such as exercise programs and dietary modification. Currently, older adults are under-represented in the studies dedicated to cardiovascular health, including those investigating the outcomes of CR. The purpose of this study is to: (1) assess the effectiveness of CR in reducing future cardiovascular events in this age group; (2) investigate the contextual factors of the current CR programs that may hinder the participation of older adults in such programs; (3) investigate the impact of CR on the quality-of-life and on the ability of older adults to maintain their autonomy with the healthcare team. The study will focus on BC residents 65 years and older who have presented with a cardiovascular event to one of two major cardiac centers in BC. Using a quantitative research design, groups of individuals who have completed a CR program will be compared to those who have not completed the program with respect to cardiovascular events and mortality. Furthermore, using a qualitative research design, the study will investigate the experiences of older adults with the current CR programs. This study will obtain evidence demonstrating the extent to which CR is beneficial to the older adult population and ways through which current CR programs could be modified to improve their ability to meet the unique needs of the elderly population. This will decrease the health burden of CVD on older adults, their families, and the healthcare system.