Cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention after acute myocardial infarction: a modern view on the problem

Cardiovascular diseases remain a heavy socioeconomic burden in the modern world, claiming up to four million lives annually, including one million of the Russian population. Most often, cardiovascular mortality is associated with chronic coronary heart disease and its complications. Despite the progress in the treatment of acute coronary syndrome in the acute disease phase, the problem of recurrent coronary events and associated adequate rehabilitation remains unresolved. Modern Russian and European recommendations for cardiovascular rehabilitation present the main directions of secondary prevention of myocardial infarction, which summarize the global and Russian evidence-based medicine data on the problem and are based on the principles of phasing, continuity, succession, and multidisciplinary approach to the patient management. This review focuses on the problems and shortcomings of secondary prevention and cardiac rehabilitation at the patient, doctor, and healthcare system levels. In addition, contemporary approaches to their elimination are described. The necessity and importance of individual training and informing patients and the formation of their sustainable commitment to a healthy lifestyle and therapeutic and preventive measures prescribed by modern guidelines on this issue are emphasized.