Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide and the primary cause of mortality in the United States. Cardiac rehabilitation is a complex, interprofessional intervention recommended for individuals with chronic cardiac conditions, such as ischemic heart disease and congestive heart failure, and for those recovering from a recent myocardial infarction and procedures, such as coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting. Cardiac rehabilitation programs aim to reduce the psychological and physiological stress of cardiovascular disease, lower mortality risk, and enhance cardiovascular function to improve quality of life. Achieving these goals strengthens cardiac capacity, slows or reverses atherosclerotic disease progression, and boosts patient confidence through gradual conditioning.
Cardiac rehabilitation, a key component of clinical practice guidelines, is an interprofessional program that focuses on supervised physical training, cardiovascular risk factor modification, and psychosocial support for individuals recovering from cardiovascular diseases. A standard 12-week program, typically consisting of 36 in-person sessions at a rehabilitation center, has been shown to reduce hospitalizations and cardiovascular mortality while improving quality of life. However, only one-fourth of eligible patients participate, with factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location contributing to low enrollment. In addition, many participants do not complete the full program, further limiting the benefits of this cardiovascular health-enhancing strategy.
Several organizations, including the American Heart Association, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, emphasize that a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program should include core components designed to optimize cardiovascular risk reduction, reduce disability, promote healthy lifestyle changes, and support long-term adherence. Key focus areas include the following:
Patient assessment
Nutritional counseling
Weight management
Blood pressure management
Lipid management
Diabetes mellitus management
Tobacco cessation
Psychosocial support
Physical activity counseling
Exercise training
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