are there gender differences in participation rates in cardiac rehabilitation?
In Germany and other countries a possibly lower programme attendance in cardiac rehabilitation of women compared to men has been critically discussed for many years. Up to now however there are only limited data related to gender-specific utilization rates and programme attendance. In a longitudinal study with three points of measurement, 496 men and 172 women after an acute myocardial infarction and their physicians were asked to complete questionnaires referring to different aspects of the medical and psychosocial situation as well as to provision of acute cardiac care and rehabilitation services. The results show that currently in Germany no gender differences exist in the use and provision of cardiac rehabilitation. Whether this apparently “fair” distribution in relation to gender can be seen as an adequate supply however is questionable in the context of different needs – especially with respect to the different psychosocial conditions of women and men.
