Global cardiac rehabilitation access stagnates despite rising disease

A study by researchers from York University and the University of Toronto reveals that global access to cardiac rehabilitation programs has stagnated over the last decade, despite a rise in cardiovascular disease (CVD) cases. Even the availability of more affordable hybrid or alternative programs has decreased since the pandemic, even as more people survive and live longer with CVD.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a proven chronic disease management tool that can reduce mortality by more than 25 percent and hospitalizations by nearly 20 percent. These programs typically transition from inpatient care to outpatient services and eventually to long-term community-based secondary prevention. Hybrid models combine clinic-based and home-based care, incorporating exercise, lifestyle education, and stress counseling.

The researchers noted that the highest rates of chronic cardiac disease are in low- and middle-income countries, which account for approximately 80 percent of global cardiovascular deaths. This trend places significant economic and systemic pressure on healthcare infrastructures. Key barriers to access include insufficient funding, staffing shortages, patient costs, transportation difficulties in rural areas, and time constraints related to work and family.