Key result
ICCPR advances global cardiac rehabilitation access and quality over 15 years through guidelines and advocacy.
Why the study?
Cardiac rehabilitation reduces CV mortality and morbidity cost-effectively, but remains globally under-utilized, particularly in middle-income countries due to structural, social, and economic barriers.
The ICCPR has played a crucial role over the past 15 years in promoting and expanding cardiac rehabilitation access, quality, and advocacy globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Supports global cardiac rehabilitation advocacy; leaves open prospective outcome evaluations in low-resource settings.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with a particular burden in middle-income countries (MICs). Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a secondary prevention model resulting in reduced CV mortality, morbidity, cost-effectively. However, CR is under-utilized globally, especially in MICs due to structural, social, and economic barriers. The International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR) is a World Heart Federation-affiliated umbrella association founded ~15 years ago, now comprised of 50 Associations and 30 champions in countries without CR societies. ICCPR addresses delivery challenges through: CR guidelines tailored for MICs, the Global CR Audit to support advocacy, the International CR Registry (ICRR), Program Certification to support service quality, multi-disciplinary provider training (CR Foundations Certification; CRFC), women-focused CR initiatives, and partnerships with the World Health Organization. ICCPR continues to foster global CR accessibility through collaboration, communication, as well as research and advocacy with their upcoming Global CR Audit Update.
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Babu et al. (2025) conducted a letter in Cardiovascular disease. International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR) initiatives was evaluated. Over the past 15 years, the International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation has advanced global cardiac rehabilitation accessibility and quality through guidelines, registries, and advocacy.
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