No transport? No worries! Cardiac telerehabilitation is a feasible and effective alternative to centre-based programs

Rita Hwang; Elise M Gane; Norman R Morris

doi:10.1007/s10741-023-10301-w

No transport? No worries! Cardiac telerehabilitation is a feasible and effective alternative to centre-based programs

Heart Fail Rev. 2023 Nov;28(6):1277-1284. doi: 10.1007/s10741-023-10301-w. Epub 2023 Feb 18.

Authors

Rita Hwang^{1

2

3}, Elise M Gane^{4

5

6}, Norman R Morris^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiotherapy, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Brisbane, Australia. r.hwang@uq.net.au.
² School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. r.hwang@uq.net.au.
³ School of Allied Health Sciences and Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia. r.hwang@uq.net.au.
⁴ Department of Physiotherapy, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Brisbane, Australia.
⁵ School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Australia.
⁷ School of Allied Health Sciences and Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
⁸ Allied Health Research Collaborative, The Prince Charles Hospital, Metro North Health, Brisbane, Australia.

Abstract

Given the under-utilisation of cardiac rehabilitation despite its benefits, there has been a shift towards alternative delivery models. The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has accelerated this shift, leading to a growing interest in home-based cardiac rehabilitation including telerehabilitation. There is increasing evidence to support cardiac telerehabilitation, with studies generally demonstrating comparable outcomes and potential cost-benefits. This review aims to provide a synopsis of the current evidence on home-based cardiac rehabilitation with a focus on telerehabilitation and practical considerations.

Keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation; Exercise; Heart failure; Home-based; Telemedicine.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Cardiac Rehabilitation*
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Humans
Quality of Life
Telerehabilitation*