Cardiac rehabilitation significantly reduces the risk of hospital readmission and death, but it is underused, according to the American Heart Association. As per new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association , participation in home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) post-heart attack or a cardiac procedure is associated with a 36% reduction in mortality from heart-related complications within four years compared to the non-participants.
The study analyzed around 1100 veterans who were eligible for cardiac rehabilitation in the US that lasted for 12 weeks and included coaching calls, motivational interviews, and personal health journals to document vital signs, along with exercise and diet. The mortality at one-year post-hospitalization was 4% for those not participating in the program as compared to 2% for those who participated in home-based cardiac…
