The Cardioaction Program: Development, Objectives, and Protocol of a Multidisciplinary Model for Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention

Background and Rationale Despite robust evidence supporting the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), the real–world implementation of comprehensive secondary prevention programs remains heterogeneous. The CardioAction program, active since 2005, was developed in Thiene (VI) within the Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation services of ULSS 7 Pedemontana in response to the need for a structured, sustainable, and multidisciplinary model of cardiovascular prevention. Inspired by major European initiatives, the EUROASPIRE surveys and the EUROACTION project, and aligned with ESC prevention guidelines, CardioAction aims to translate evidence–based recommendations into routine clinical practice through a family–centered approach. Program Description and Objectives CardioAction is a hospital–based, family–centered cardiac rehabilitation and prevention program targeting patients with coronary artery disease or valvular heart disease following an event and/or intervention. The primary objectives are:achievement and long–term maintenance of guideline–recommended lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factor targets;improvement of functional capacity;promotion of psychological well–being; andempowerment of patients and caregivers through structured education and shared responsibility in disease management. Protocol and Structure: The program follows a standardized, stepwise pathway. Eligible patients undergo a comprehensive baseline multidisciplinary assessment including clinical evaluation, cardiovascular risk profiling, functional capacity assessment using the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test, metabolic evaluation, and psychological screening. Family members are actively involved from the initial assessment. The intervention phase integrates supervised and home–based exercise training, nutritional counseling based on Mediterranean diet principles, smoking cessation support, psychological counseling, and structured educational sessions delivered by a dedicated multidisciplinary team. Follow–up assessments are conducted at 6 and 12 months, with reinforcement of individualized goals and long–term secondary prevention strategies. Conclusions CardioAction represents a reproducible, real–world model of integrated cardiac rehabilitation and secondary cardiovascular prevention embedded within the Italian public healthcare system, providing a comprehensive framework to support sustainable cardiovascular risk reduction and long–term patient engagement.