Examining the Steps-Per-Day Trajectories of Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients A LATENT CLASS GROWTH ANALYSIS PERSPECTIVE

PURPOSE: Research suggests that cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients need to engage in at least 6500 steps per day to obtain health benefits. Unfortunately, very little is known about the steps-per-day trajectories of these patients and whether the demographic, clinical, and CR program characteristics are similar for these trajectories. METHODS: Patients (n = 235) completed a questionnaire assessing demographic and clinical variables upon entry to CR and subsequently wore a pedometer for 7 days at the end of CR, and 3, 6, and 9 months after completing CR. RESULTS: Latent class growth analyses showed that 3 classes of patients emerged that were termed nonadherers (averaged similar to 3112 steps per day at the end of CR and remained stable up to 9 months after CR), significant decliners (averaged similar to 7010 steps per day at the end of CR and steadily declined after CR), and optimal adherers (averaged similar to 10 700 steps per day and remained stable after CR). Logistic regressions showed that nonadherers were more likely to be obese, have at least 1 comorbidity, and a lower exercise capacity compared with the significant decliners/optimal adherers. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct steps-per-day trajectories exist for CR patients that are partially distinguished by demographic and clinical variables.