What has cardiac rehabilitation looked like in the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned for the future

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread shutdowns, significantly impacting non-essential outpatient services like cardiac rehabilitation (CR).
• Center-based CR programs faced closures ranging from weeks to over a year, necessitating rapid adaptation.
• Uncertainty about lockdown durations forced CR programs to consider new delivery models for safe and effective patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the adaptations made by cardiac rehabilitation programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify key lessons learned from these adaptations that can positively influence future CR delivery.

Main Methods:

• Review of programmatic adaptations implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Analysis of strategies for safe in-person CR sessions, including equipment spacing and patient limits.
• Examination of the role of telehealth and virtual services in CR delivery.

Main Results:

• Programs adapted by increasing physical distancing and limiting patient numbers for in-person sessions.
• Legislative approval for telehealth reimbursement enabled broader patient reach.
• The pandemic highlighted the complexity of exercise recommendations due to varied COVID-19 symptoms and long-term effects.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of innovative CR delivery models, including virtual and hybrid approaches.
• Lessons learned emphasize the importance of flexibility, patient-centered care, and leveraging technology in CR.
• Future CR delivery can benefit from incorporating these pandemic-induced adaptations to enhance accessibility and effectiveness.