Cardiac Rehabilitation After Open Heart Surgery: A Narrative Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Postoperative cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended for open heart surgery patients.
• Participation in CR programs remains low and appears to be decreasing.
• This review investigates CR effectiveness and identifies participation barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the effectiveness of postoperative cardiac rehabilitation.
• To identify factors influencing patient participation in CR programs.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of two databases for primary research on postoperative CR impact.
• Review of studies published within the last decade.

Main Results:

• CR improves physiological functioning, reduces mortality and readmission rates, and enhances mental status.
• Factors influencing participation include age, gender, access to CR centers, and socioeconomic variables.
• Nutritional support is recognized as important for CR success.

Conclusions:

• Despite proven benefits, participation in postoperative CR continues to decline.
• Addressing identified barriers is crucial to improve CR uptake.