Cardiac Rehabilitation in Older u.s. Women: Challenges and Opportunities

Despite its documented benefit and Class Ia recommendations in most cardiovascular clinical practice guidelines of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology, cardiac rehabilitation is woefully underutilized in older U.S. women. Numerous studies document the decreased application of cardiac rehabilitation in women compared to men and in older compared to younger patients, with this intersection creating a perfect storm for older women with cardiovascular disease. This manuscript summarizes the challenges presented by this situation and offers opportunities for improvement of cardiovascular care for older women.