Exercise based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs have been shown to be efficacious in
the reduction of recurrent cardiovascular events and increased physical and psychological
function. However, in North America only about 10-40% of eligible CVD patients are
referred to CR. One reason for poor CR referral may be a lack of information on the costs
and health care utilization associated with CR. Thus, the purpose of this project was to
explore differences in health care utilization and costs among patients who attended and
did not attend cardiac rehabilitation
