Cardiac Health
Running head: HEALTH PROMOTION OF CARDIAC REHABILITATION 1
Health Promotion of Cardiac Rehabilitation:
Post-Surgery Elderly Patients
Justin Jackson
Creighton University
HEALTH PROMOTION OF CARDIAC REHABILITATION 2
Cardiac Rehabilitation Effects on Elderly Patients The spike in births from 1946 to 1964 has created a large population of elderly citizens in the United States. Statistics show that 7.1 individuals turn 50 years of age every minute (“The Boomer Stats,” 2009). The growth of this populace will lead to an increase in medical services needed; including treatments for heart disease and subsequent cardiac surgery. The purpose of this paper is to research the impact that cardiac rehabilitation has with regard to elderly patients post-surgery and the positive outcomes that may result. There is little data that breaks down the number of heart surgeries performed each year in the United States by patient age. But according to the American Heart Association, 448,000 people had cardiac revascularization (bypass surgery) in 2006. The report also includes valve replacements and heart transplants to bring the total to 694,000 open heart surgeries performed in that year (2009). Because the elderly population is growing, it is becoming increasingly more acceptable to use surgery as a way to prolong and improve the quality of life in patients 70 years of age and older. Surgeons are more willing today to take measures that previously may have been considered unreasonable due to a patient’s age. These reasons include surgical advancements and improved techniques from pre-surgical care to post-operative rehabilitation that was not available just a few years ago (Engoren, Arslanian-Engoren, Steckel, Neihardt, Fenn-Buderer, 2002).
HEALTH PROMOTION OF CARDIAC REHABILITATION 3 One of the big improvements in post-operative care is cardiac rehabilitation nursing. Cardiac rehab improves the overall heart health of patients and the added
Health Promotion of Cardiac Rehabilitation:
Post-Surgery Elderly Patients
Justin Jackson
Creighton University
HEALTH PROMOTION OF CARDIAC REHABILITATION 2
Cardiac Rehabilitation Effects on Elderly Patients The spike in births from 1946 to 1964 has created a large population of elderly citizens in the United States. Statistics show that 7.1 individuals turn 50 years of age every minute (“The Boomer Stats,” 2009). The growth of this populace will lead to an increase in medical services needed; including treatments for heart disease and subsequent cardiac surgery. The purpose of this paper is to research the impact that cardiac rehabilitation has with regard to elderly patients post-surgery and the positive outcomes that may result. There is little data that breaks down the number of heart surgeries performed each year in the United States by patient age. But according to the American Heart Association, 448,000 people had cardiac revascularization (bypass surgery) in 2006. The report also includes valve replacements and heart transplants to bring the total to 694,000 open heart surgeries performed in that year (2009). Because the elderly population is growing, it is becoming increasingly more acceptable to use surgery as a way to prolong and improve the quality of life in patients 70 years of age and older. Surgeons are more willing today to take measures that previously may have been considered unreasonable due to a patient’s age. These reasons include surgical advancements and improved techniques from pre-surgical care to post-operative rehabilitation that was not available just a few years ago (Engoren, Arslanian-Engoren, Steckel, Neihardt, Fenn-Buderer, 2002).
HEALTH PROMOTION OF CARDIAC REHABILITATION 3 One of the big improvements in post-operative care is cardiac rehabilitation nursing. Cardiac rehab improves the overall heart health of patients and the added
References: American Heart Association. Open heart surgery statistics (Data file). Retreived from http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4674 BabyBoomer Headquarters. Every 7 seconds (Data file). Retrieved from http://www.bbhq.com/bomrstat.htm Engoren, M., Arslanian-Engoren, C, Steckel, D., Neihardt, J., Fenn-Buderer, N. (2002). Cost, outcome, and functional status in octogenarians and septuagenarians after cardiac surgery. Chest. 122.4, 1309-1315. Lavie, C. J., Milani, R. (2004). Benefits of cardiac rehabilitation in the elderly. Chest, 126.4, 1010-1012. Pluss, C.E., Karlsson, M. R., Wallen, N.H. (2008). Effects of an expanded cardiac f rehabilitation programme in patients treated for an acute myocardial infarction or a coronary artery by-pass graft operation. Clinical Rehabilitaiton. 22, 306-318.