Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs have been recognized in recent decades as an essential component in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and is currently recommended for all patients with a diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome, stable angin, heart failure, following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft or angioplasty (percutaneous cardiac intervention - PCI) and cardiac transplantation. The benefits of CRP in multiple variables are well recognized: increased functional capacity; control of blood glucose and lipid profile; reduction of Body Mass Index, blood pressure and inflammatory parameters; improvement of psychological factors and quality of life; reduced number of re-hospitalizations, morbidity and mortality associated with heart disease, providing further economic benefits to the healthcare system. Despite the documentation of all these benefits, there is a worrying underutilization of these programs and it is estimated that in most European countries less than half of eligible patients attend to a CRP. Home-Based Programs and Application of New Technologies in Cardiac Rehabilitation: Diogo Soares, Sandra Magalhaes* and Sofia Viamonte