Cardiac rehabilitation services in Ontario: components, models and underserved groups

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Cardiac rehabilitation programs are essential for patient recovery and secondary prevention.
• Program development balances established guidelines with local needs and emerging evidence.
• Addressing underserved populations and diverse patient needs is a growing focus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the features of Ontario cardiac rehabilitation programs.
• To assess adherence to guidelines and emerging evidence.
• To examine the capacity for treating underserved and non-cardiac populations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study surveyed all Ontario cardiac rehabilitation programs.
• 38 out of 45 (84.4%) programs responded to the investigator-generated survey.

Main Results:

• Most programs (71.1%) are hospital-based, with many (63.2%) offering twice-weekly exercise and education.
• A significant number provide alternative delivery models (68.4%), including tailored programs for rural patients (27.0%).
• Programs increasingly serve patients with non-cardiac indications (62.2%) and screen for depression (68.4%), offering post-program resources (71.1%).

Conclusions:

• Ontario cardiac rehabilitation programs demonstrate adaptability by offering alternative care models like home-based rehabilitation.
• Strong community integration facilitates seamless transitions for patients after completing rehabilitation.
• Programs maintain core components while evolving to meet the needs of patients with comorbidities and chronic diseases.