Why it is essential to improve cardiac rehabilitation completion rates in India

Cardiac rehabilitation, a comprehensive approach to recovery and risk reduction, plays a crucial role in heart patients' treatment alongside medications, interventions, and surgeries. This program typically involves medical assessments, supervised exercise, nutritional advice, emotional support, and health education tailored to patients' clinical, cultural, and behavioral requirements.

While cardiac rehab has been integrated into routine care in developed nations, its adoption in low- and middle-income countries like India is still emerging. The primary advantages of participating in a cardiac rehab program include faster recovery post-cardiac procedures, reduced risk of future complications, improved blood sugar, blood pressure, and lipid levels, increased cardiorespiratory fitness, better adherence to heart-healthy diets, effective weight management, abstinence from tobacco and excessive alcohol, enhanced emotional health, improved quality of life, and decreased mortality.

Despite its numerous benefits, cardiac rehabilitation completion rates remain low in India. Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the country, accounting for 28.6 lakh deaths, with nearly 27% of all deaths attributed to heart disease. A significant proportion of these fatalities occur prematurely, between the ages of 40 and 69 years.

Survivors often experience lingering effects that impact productivity and quality of life. The main obstacles to completing the cardiac rehab program include patients' work commitments, family responsibilities, financial constraints, and medical complications. To overcome these challenges, program facilitators should offer personalized solutions such as flexible scheduling, return-to-work counseling, sliding payment options, and close collaboration with referring cardiologists to address complications early.

Additionally, implementing a 'TRACK and CARE' policy can boost patient engagement by establishing trust, involving relatives, setting clear program aims, monitoring progress, and acknowledging positive behavior changes. This holistic approach, incorporating multidisciplinary care, addressing comorbidities, and focusing on holistic care, is vital for addressing the increasing prevalence of heart disease among young Indians.

While prevention remains paramount, cardiac rehabilitation should become an integral part of treatment, not an optional add-on. Proactively addressing barriers to access, adherence, and program completion is essential for ensuring heart patients lead productive, healthy, and fulfilling lives.