Key result
Phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation cuts all-cause mortality ~44% compared to usual care.
Why the study?
The impact of attending a phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation program on all-cause mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease was assessed due to variable program structures and limited pooled evidence.
Does attending a phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation program reduce all-cause mortality in adult patients with cardiovascular disease compared to usual care?
Systematic Review (n=60,939)
Does attending a phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation program reduce all-cause mortality in adult patients with cardiovascular disease compared to usual care?
Participation in long-term, phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation is associated with a significant 44% reduction in all-cause mortality in adult patients with cardiovascular disease.
Supports broader phase 3 CR implementation; confirms mortality benefit in large-scale evidence synthesis.
AIM: The primary objective of this study was to assess the impact of attending a phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program on all-cause mortality. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review using database searches (MEDLINE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) up to December 2022 to identify studies that compared adult patients undergoing phase 3 of CR with those receiving usual care. RESULTS: Out of a total of 1867 identified articles, eight met the eligibility criteria (two randomized controlled trials (RCT) and six non-RCT) and were included (n=60939 patients; 82% male, average age of 62±11 years). Phase 3 of a CR program showed a significant association with reduced mortality rates, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.56 (95% CI 0.49-0.65), with minimal evidence of statistical heterogeneity. The studies presented a range of differently structured CR programs. They varied in duration, training methods, and components. CONCLUSION: This systematic review demonstrates that attending a phase 3 CR program has the beneficial effect of reducing mortality among patients with cardiovascular disease, in particular those with coronary artery disease. These findings highlight the importance of CR participation on a long-term basis and reinforce the value of increasing the number of specialized worldwide and optimizing patient referrals to participate in a long-term phase 3 CR program.
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Aguiar-Ricardo et al. (2026) conducted a systematic review in Cardiovascular disease (n=60,939). Phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program vs. Usual care was evaluated on All-cause mortality (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.49-0.65). Attending a phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation program significantly reduced all-cause mortality compared to usual care (HR 0.56; 95% CI 0.49-0.65).
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