Why so few heart attack survivors take advantage of rehab?

A new reserach published in Circualtion has found, as in many other studies, that cardiac rehab improves the survival rate of heart attack survivors.

The study tracked more than 30,000 Medicare patients aged over 65 for 4 years and found that
those who completed 36 sessions of rehab had a risk reduction of 47% in death and 31% in heart attack than those who had fewer sessions. However only 18% attended all 36 sessions and drop-out rate was high.

Other studies have shown that patients who attended even a few sessions improved their survival rate significantly, but most heart attack survivors did not go to rehab and those who went did not stick to it. Why don't patients take advantage of it?

Some cardiologists say that successful rehab required strong self-discipline and perserverance as well as respect in the medical community supported by adequate resources. A study published in 2007 in Circualtion found that cardiac rehab was provided to about 14% of patients hospitalised for heart attacks and 31% who had bypass surgery.

Source: Bradley G. Hammill “Relationship Between Cardiac Rehabilitation and Long-Term Risks of Death and Myocardial Infarction Among Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries” Circulation. 2010;121:63-70 ( f/t via Athens)

UK childhood cancer survival lag behind EU

A study published in the current issue of Lancet Oncology, Volume 8, Number 8, ( subscription required) found that children suffering from cancer in the UK have lower survival rates than their European counterparts. The study highlighted trials on Wilm's tumour - common childhood tumour in Germany.

The authors said that most children in Germany are provided regular check-ups by primary-care paediatricians and increased survival was linked to early diagnosis through routine or incidental examination. They believe children in the UK have been receiving a less thorough treatment .

They called for routine surveillance of children as standard across the UK and said that health visitors needed to be more aware of the symptoms of cancer.