Disparities in Geographic Access to Cardiac Rehabilitation Among Socially Vulnerable Communities.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is a dearth of research examining geographic disparities in access to cardiac rehabilitation (CR). We evaluated whether disparities in geographic access to CR exist among socially vulnerable communities, using the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI).

Methods

Among 3113 US counties, we investigated relationships between SVI and number of hospitals with CR per 100 000 adults, modeled with SVI as a linear variable, and SVI and distance to the nearest county with CR facilities, modeled using spline terms for SVI. We used multivariable zero-inflated negative binomial regression modeling adjusted for county population, CR eligibility, percentage without health insurance, metropolitan status, and availability of existing health care infrastructure. We explored whether

SUBMITTER: Chen EW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12684561 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature