[Secondary prevention and cardiac rehabilitation]

Coronary heart disease is a chronic disease with multifactorial etiology. The risk depends on several, already well-known, risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, stress, etc. Multiple risk factors will increase the risk. The variety of risk factors requires a multidisciplinary approach--a team of different experts guided by a cardiologist who ensures an appropriate rehabilitation program. This should include secondary prevention as an important part of coronary heart disease patient treatment. It is based on the generally accepted medical, professional and scientific principles and long standing international experience. Papers written by experts and published on behalf of the World Health Organization, European Society of Cardiology, European Society of Hypertension, European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, and other societies, define the basic characteristics of cardiac rehabilitation programes: aims, forms, content, indications and ways of implementing it in order to make it comprehensive, and to help regain the patients' temporarily lost ability to return to normal life and work. The cardiac patient will be fully educated to manage his exercise program and secondary prevention for life. Taking into account the situation that we have in our country, in relation to social structure, demography, legislation and types of health insurance, we would recommend that post-acute coronary syndrome patients undergo a cardiac rehabilitation program, which includes secondary prevention. After the education and rehabilitation program, aimed at individual needs, patients will continue under the guidance of his/her GP, consulting the specialist only when needed. In this way, the positive effects of cardiac rehabilitation will be long lasting.