Changes in Mental and Physical Health Outcomes Following One Day a Week Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation in Regional New South Wales.
Nnamdi Mgbemena, Jane Thompson, Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu
PMID 40125898WHAT IT FOUND
In regional NSW, patients completing one weekly cardiopulmonary rehab session showed reduced depression, faster sit-to-stand times, and longer walking distances.
Waist circumference decreased slightly. Blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation did not change significantly.
Key findings
01The proportion of participants with major depressive disorder dropped from 25.3% at enrolment to approximately half that level after completing the programme.
02Physical function improved, with significant increases in six-minute walk test distance and reductions in five-sit-to-stand test time across both cardiac and pulmonary groups.
03Cardiovascular vital signs including systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation showed no statistically significant change after the intervention.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
There was no control group, so it is impossible to know if the improvements were due to the rehabilitation or other factors. The study was retrospective and relied on voluntary enrolment, which may mean participants were already more motivated to improve their health. The sample size was relatively small, and the study was conducted in a single regional hospital, limiting generalisability to urban areas with different resources. There was no long-term follow-up, so it is unclear if the benefits lasted after the programme ended. Important variables like quality of life and medication adherence were not measured.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this one-day-a-week programme replaces standard high-frequency care for all patients. The lack of a control group means we cannot confirm the programme caused the improvements, and the absence of changes in blood pressure or heart rate suggests it may not address all cardiovascular risk factors equally.