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August 30, 2026Current Problems in Cardiology

Post-AMI cardiac rehabilitation is linked to reduced mortality and reinfarction, yet only ~33% of patients complete it.

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Why the study?

Despite Class I guideline recommendations and evidence of clinical benefit, fewer than one-third of eligible US patients complete cardiac rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction, with persistent implementation gaps across delivery models and demographics.

Does cardiac rehabilitation improve outcomes in patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction?

Population

Patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction

Design

Review

Key result

Cardiac rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction is associated with reduced mortality and reinfarctions, yet fewer than one-third of eligible patients in the United States complete a program.

Authors

WPW. Frank Peacock

Discussion

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Overview

Low completion despite mortality benefit warrants targeted referral efforts; confirms associations but leaves open optimal implementation strategies.

Key Points

  • To synthesize evidence on the physiological, clinical, and psychosocial impact of cardiac rehabilitation following acute myocardial infarction, while assessing delivery models and real-world participation gaps.
  • Synthesized contemporary trial and registry evidence evaluating program timing, intensity, and delivery models, including center-based, home-based, hybrid, and digital formats.
  • Assessed real-world completion rates, clinical guideline recommendations, and sociodemographic disparities in secondary prevention programs.
  • Cardiac rehabilitation is associated with reduced mortality, fewer reinfarctions and hospital readmissions, improved left ventricular function, and better quality of life.
  • Fewer than one-third of eligible patients in the United States complete a program despite Class I guideline recommendations, with notable disparities by sex, race, income, and geography.

Structured PICO

Does cardiac rehabilitation improve outcomes in patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction?

P
Population
Patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
I
Intervention
Cardiac rehabilitation (structured, multidisciplinary secondary-prevention intervention combining supervised exercise training, risk-factor modification, psychosocial support, and patient education)

Despite strong evidence and Class I guideline recommendations for cardiac rehabilitation after AMI, significant implementation gaps remain, with less than one-third of eligible US patients participating.

Cite This Study

W. Frank Peacock (2026) conducted a review in Acute Myocardial Infarction. Cardiac rehabilitation was evaluated. Cardiac rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction is associated with reduced mortality and reinfarctions, yet fewer than one-third of eligible patients in the United States complete a program.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a93ea033affd7f5e23e6b54https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2026.103436
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