Cardiac rehabilitation referral rates remain low, with only 30% to 50% of eligible patients typically referred to outpatient programs, necessitating improved continuity of care.
A concerted approach focusing on informational, management, and relational continuity of care is required to optimize patient outcomes and address low uptake in cardiac rehabilitation.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of disease burden worldwide. Referral to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a class I recommendation for all patients with CAD based on findings that participation can reduce cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, as well as improve functional capacity and quality of life. However, programme uptake remains low, systematic progression through the traditional CR phases is often lacking, and communication between health care providers is frequently suboptimal, resulting in fragmented care. Only 30% to 50% of eligible patients are typically referred to outpatient CR and fewer still complete the programme. In contemporary models of CR, patients are no longer treated by a single practitioner, but rather by an array of health professionals, across multiples specialities and health care settings. The risk of fragmented care in CR may be great, and a concerted approach is required to achieve continuity and optimise patient outcomes. 'Continuity of care' has been described as the delivery of services in a coherent, logical, and timely fashion and which entails 3 specific domains: informational, management, and relational continuity. This is examined in the context of CR.
Giuliano et al. (Sun,) conducted a review in Coronary artery disease. Cardiac rehabilitation was evaluated. Cardiac rehabilitation referral rates remain low, with only 30% to 50% of eligible patients typically referred to outpatient programs, necessitating improved continuity of care.