[The economic analysis of the total cost of rehabilitation of the patients suffering from coronary heart disease]

Abstract

Objective: To report the results of analysis of the economic efficiency of physical rehabilitation of the patients surviving after myocardial infarction with the use of physical exercises.

Material and methods: The study included 110 patients (mean age 58,3±9,8 years) who were randomized into two groups: the group where the patients were treated with the use of physical training (n=53) and the control group (n=57). The physical training included natural walking over the level ground at a speed corresponding to 60% of the maximum heart rate achieved during the initial 6 minute of the walking test.

Results: The results of the analysis indicate that the cost of the full course of medicamental therapy for the patients of the control group was 790.043,83 rubles higher than that for the patients treated with the use of physical exercises. The expenses for the instrumental and laboratory studies in the former group proved to be 142.776,8 rubles higher than in the latter.

Conclusion: The inclusion of controlled physical exercises in the program in the rehabilitative treatment of the patients surviving after myocardial infarction makes it possible to achieve a higher quality of their life with the more favourable cost-benefit ratio compared with use of medicamental therapy alone.