Virtual and in-person cardiac rehabilitation

Abstract

Most eligible patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure do not participate in cardiac rehabilitation. Covid-19 has exacerbated this, with a substantial drop in the number of patients participating. Home and telehealth based interventions are increasingly being used as alternatives to traditional centre based rehabilitation programmes. Outcomes for patients participating in home based rehabilitation compare favourably with centre based programmes in terms of hospitalisations, quality of life, and cost. Telehealth based interventions are promising, but some patients may find these interventions challenging. Novel ways of delivering rehabilitation have been employed during the covid-19 pandemic, including hybrid models that are likely to be offered as alternatives to centre based rehabilitation in future, enabling greater patient choice and greater uptake of cardiac rehabilitation.