Rationale:
One goal of CR is to improve quality of life in participants. It is unclear if quality of life endpoints are achieved equally in CR by older and younger participants.
Objectives:
Compare SF36 scores pre and post CR for participants 70yrs versus those <70yrs of age.
Methodology:
Retrospective analysis of 258 participants in CR between 2/5/04 and 3/4/05. Eighty-seven were >=70yrs (77.3 +/- 4.8);171 were <70yrs (57.3 yrs +/- 8.3 yrs). Participants had complete entry and exit data including SF36. Paired t-tests and Student t-tests were used for analysis.
Results:
Higher SF36 scores indicate less dysfunction. Upon CR entry, elderly participants scored significantly higher in bodily pain and mental health domains, but significantly lower in the physical function than younger participants.
At the completion of CR, both groups had significant improvement in all domains of the SF36. Younger participants had significantly greater improvement in vitality and role physical than elderly participants (P <=.02).
Conclusion:
Elderly and younger participants achieved significant improvements in comprehensive health status as represented by the SF36. The differences between the groups in the bodily pain domain of the SF 36 upon program entry may be indicative of a difference in perception of pain and not the amount of actual pain experienced by the groups.