(RS25) Illness Perception, Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Knowledge, Medication Knowledge and Adherence Among Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients Completed Phase 2 Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: A Prospective Study

Introduction:

Ischemic heart disease is the principal cause of death globally and in Malaysia. The patients’ characteristics, knowledge on disease and medications, and outcomes of post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients who enrolled in the cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) remain unknown in our population. This study aimed to assess the illness perception, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor knowledge, medication knowledge and adherence among post-myocardial infarction patients who completed phase 2 intensive CRP and their associated parameters.

Results and discussion :

Sixty-seven patients with a mean age of 53.8 (±8.4) were recruited, predominantly male (n=53, 79.1%). The median BIPQ, CVD risk factor and medication knowledge scores were 34 (29-39), 3 (2-4), and 87.5 (75.0-94.0), respectively. The majority (n=60, 89.6%) of patients adhered to medications. Eleven (16.4%) patients had hospital readmission within 30 days. BIPQ (p=0.037) and medication knowledge score (p=0.046) were significantly associated with medication adherence. Only male gender (p=0.043) associated with hospital readmission.

Conclusion :

Post-MI patients enrolled who completed intensive phase 2 CRP had a positive perception of their CVD, achieved satisfactory medication knowledge and adherence rate, but demonstrated poor knowledge on CVD risk factor knowledge. Hospital readmission, however, remains high for post-MI patients, which requires further exploration.