Effectiveness of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation and Its Importance During COVID-19
Cardiac rehabilitation is a secondary prevention and disease-management opportunity for individuals living with cardiovascular disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused postponements and cancellations for many health services, including 41% of cardiac rehabilitation programs in Canada. Cardiac rehab...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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McGill University
2021-06-01
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| Series: | McGill Journal of Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://mjm.mcgill.ca/article/view/857 |
| _version_ | 1818380847518056448 |
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| author | Hannah Pollock Anna Garnett |
| author_facet | Hannah Pollock Anna Garnett |
| author_sort | Hannah Pollock |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cardiac rehabilitation is a secondary prevention and disease-management opportunity for individuals living with cardiovascular disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused postponements and cancellations for many health services, including 41% of cardiac rehabilitation programs in Canada. Cardiac rehabilitation effectively reduces the risk of mortality, morbidity, and hospitalizations in cardiac clients. Without access, individuals face challenges to improve their health, which places them at risk of adverse outcomes. This paper argues that transitioning to home-based cardiac rehabilitation programs during the pandemic is a reasonable strategy to meet the ongoing rehabilitation needs of cardiac patients. Home-based cardiac rehabilitation programs utilize limited hospital or clinic visits because the majority of exercise is performed at home through regular communication with a case manager. Programs utilize a variety of resources, including technology, to regularly monitor, educate, and counsel clients. The programs’ flexibility and convenience overcome many multi-level barriers which normally impede participants from accessing services. These programs have proven to be equally effective, if not more effective than centre-based programs, at improving mortality, cardiac events, exercise capacity and modifiable risk factors. Home-based programs are a valid alternative to support and protect a vulnerable population, especially those at high risk if diagnosed with COVID-19. Transitioning to a home-based platform may be a challenge, but the Canadian Cardiovascular Society has provided practical approaches to support programs. Adapting current plans and developing new ones, utilizing appropriate resources, having a conservative exercise program, monitoring clients, emphasizing education, being flexible, and enhancing safety are key steps for a successful transition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:25:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d063c73331f040438747745319dfb54e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1715-8125 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:25:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | McGill University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | McGill Journal of Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-d063c73331f040438747745319dfb54e2022-12-21T23:20:24ZengMcGill UniversityMcGill Journal of Medicine1715-81252021-06-0119110.26443/mjm.v19i1.857Effectiveness of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation and Its Importance During COVID-19Hannah Pollock0Anna Garnett1Western UniversityWestern UniversityCardiac rehabilitation is a secondary prevention and disease-management opportunity for individuals living with cardiovascular disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused postponements and cancellations for many health services, including 41% of cardiac rehabilitation programs in Canada. Cardiac rehabilitation effectively reduces the risk of mortality, morbidity, and hospitalizations in cardiac clients. Without access, individuals face challenges to improve their health, which places them at risk of adverse outcomes. This paper argues that transitioning to home-based cardiac rehabilitation programs during the pandemic is a reasonable strategy to meet the ongoing rehabilitation needs of cardiac patients. Home-based cardiac rehabilitation programs utilize limited hospital or clinic visits because the majority of exercise is performed at home through regular communication with a case manager. Programs utilize a variety of resources, including technology, to regularly monitor, educate, and counsel clients. The programs’ flexibility and convenience overcome many multi-level barriers which normally impede participants from accessing services. These programs have proven to be equally effective, if not more effective than centre-based programs, at improving mortality, cardiac events, exercise capacity and modifiable risk factors. Home-based programs are a valid alternative to support and protect a vulnerable population, especially those at high risk if diagnosed with COVID-19. Transitioning to a home-based platform may be a challenge, but the Canadian Cardiovascular Society has provided practical approaches to support programs. Adapting current plans and developing new ones, utilizing appropriate resources, having a conservative exercise program, monitoring clients, emphasizing education, being flexible, and enhancing safety are key steps for a successful transition.https://mjm.mcgill.ca/article/view/857cardiac rehabilitationCOVID-19Home-basedTele-rehabilitationvirtual health |
| spellingShingle | Hannah Pollock Anna Garnett Effectiveness of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation and Its Importance During COVID-19 McGill Journal of Medicine cardiac rehabilitation COVID-19 Home-based Tele-rehabilitation virtual health |
| title | Effectiveness of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation and Its Importance During COVID-19 |
| title_full | Effectiveness of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation and Its Importance During COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation and Its Importance During COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation and Its Importance During COVID-19 |
| title_short | Effectiveness of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation and Its Importance During COVID-19 |
| title_sort | effectiveness of home based cardiac rehabilitation and its importance during covid 19 |
| topic | cardiac rehabilitation COVID-19 Home-based Tele-rehabilitation virtual health |
| url | https://mjm.mcgill.ca/article/view/857 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hannahpollock effectivenessofhomebasedcardiacrehabilitationanditsimportanceduringcovid19 AT annagarnett effectivenessofhomebasedcardiacrehabilitationanditsimportanceduringcovid19 |