Individuals from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds face heightened risks of morbidity and mortality, particularly in the context of health conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Despite this increased vulnerability, they often face barriers to accessing crucial secondary prevention programs, such as cardiac rehabilitation. How can we bridge this gap and ensure that these vulnerable patients receive the support they urgently need?

In this interview, Diann Gaalema, PhD and Anthony N. DeMaria, MD, MACC discuss financial incentives to improving cardiac rehab participation.

Related References:

1. Gaalema, D. E., Elliott, R. J., Savage, P. D., Rengo, J. L., Cutler, A. Y., Pericot-Valverde, I., Priest, J. S., Shepard, D. S., Higgins, S. T., & Ades, P. A. (2019). Financial Incentives to Increase Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation Among Low-Socioeconomic Status Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JACC. Heart failure, 7(7), 537–546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchf.2018.12.008
2. Khadanga, Sherrie MD; Savage, Patrick D. MS; Ades, Philip A. MD; Yant, Blair BS; Anair, Bradley BS; Kromer, Lisa BA; Gaalema, Diann E. PhD. Lower-Socioeconomic Status Patients Have Extremely High-Risk Factor Profiles on Entry to Cardiac Rehabilitation. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention 44(1):p 26-32, January 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/HCR.0000000000000826
3. Yant, B., Kromer, L., Savage, P. D., Khadanga, S., Ades, P. A., & Gaalema, D. E. (2023). Financial incentives and case management to improve cardiac rehabilitation participation among patients with lower socio-economic status: Rationale and protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 129, 107174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2023.107174