Cardiac disease, cardiac rehabilitation and barriers to participation - an overview

Cardiac disease is the primary cause of death in the United States and throughout the world. Patients who suffer from cardiac disease are most often diagnosed with vessel disease specific to the coronary arteries. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a secondary prevention program designed to prevent the progression of this disease. A structured phase II CR program enhances the quality of life both physically and emotionally for patients with long-term outcomes; as such a program involves a comprehensive approach with the primary focus on the physical rehabilitation along with educational, psychological and social support. CR programs have shown promising results for improving clinical outcomes, yet participation remains disappointingly low. Barriers to participation have been identified as: gender, lack of physician referral, age, race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Recognizing and overcoming such barriers are necessary for the improvement of patient outcomes through increased CR enrollment and participation.