Cardiac rehabilitation programs not keeping up with global increases in cardiovascular disease
Despite the rising incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), along with evidence that cardiac rehabilitation programs improve outcomes for those living with CVD, availability of these programs has not increased worldwide in the past decade, according to a new study by York University researchers.
Cardiac rehabilitation programs have not kept pace with the global surge in cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study by York University researchers. Despite evidence that these programs improve outcomes for those with CVD, their availability has not expanded worldwide in the past decade. The pandemic led to a decrease in hybrid or alternative programs, which are more cost-effective.
However, more people are now surviving and living longer with CVD. These programs, which may include exercise, education on healthy living, and stress counseling, are known to reduce death by more than 25% and hospitalization by almost 20%. Led by York University's Gabriela Lima de Melo Ghisi and Sherry Grace, and York grad student Rachael Carson, the study reveals that reimbursement for hybrid/alternative models is limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the burden of CVD is highest.
Funding, staffing, and accessibility issues persist, calling for increased implementation and sustained reimbursement for these life-saving programs.
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