Current Status of Cardiac Rehabilitation in the Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers in Korea

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers (RCCs) are a Korean initiative to bridge regional healthcare disparities.
• Their cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs are intended to serve as a model for national post-acute care.
• Evaluating the current state of CR within these centers is essential for future development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current status, including capacity, activity, and barriers, of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs in Korean Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers (RCCs).
• To identify disparities in CR services across different regions.
• To provide evidence for developing national strategies to enhance CR program activation.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to 12 RCCs across various provinces in Korea.
• The survey collected data on CR program conditions, patient activity levels, and identified barriers.
• Data analysis focused on comparing CR capacity, density, referral, enrollment, and adherence rates.

Main Results:

• Significant regional variations were found in acute myocardial infarction admissions, CR candidate numbers, capacity, and density.
• While facilities, equipment, and personnel for CR were available, and referral (97%) and education (78%) rates were high, inpatient exercise participation (56%) was insufficient.
• Outpatient CR enrollment (47%) and adherence (17%) rates were notably low, with substantial inter-center differences.

Conclusions:

• Korean RCCs exhibit considerable gaps in CR capacity and patient engagement, particularly in outpatient settings.
• Barriers related to patients, healthcare providers, and policy factors hinder CR program activation.
• Evidence-based national health strategies are needed to overcome these barriers and improve CR program effectiveness across Korea.