[Cardiac rehabilitation: physiologic basis, beneficial effects and contraindications]

Cardiac rehabilitation can reduce morbidity and mortality cost-effectively among patients with many types of cardiovascular disease yet is widely underutilized. Rehabilitation is helpful not only for patients who have had myocardial infarction but also for those with stable angina or congestive heart failure and those who have undergone myocardial revascularization, transplantation, or valve surgery. The beneficial effects of rehabilitation include a reduction in mortality from cardiovascular disease, improved exercise tolerance, and fewer cardiac symptoms. This method includes improved risk factor management, more successful smoking cessation, better psychosocial well-being, and an increased likelihood of return to work. Rehabilitation requires a multidisciplinary team focusing on therapeutic education, individually tailored exercise, and optimization of functional status and mental health. Current research trends in this area include the evaluation of new secondary prevention modalities and alternatives such as home-based rehabilitation.