Cardiac Rehabilitation in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Scoping Review with a Saudi Arabia-Focused...

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is underused globally, and evidence on its availability and delivery in the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO EMR) remains fragmented. This scoping review mapped evidence on cardiac rehabilitation (CR) across countries of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO EMR), including service availability, delivery models, participation pathways, and barriers and enablers, with focused consideration of Saudi Arabia. Studies published from 1 January 2000 to 14 January 2026 were searched in MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, Embase, and the WHO Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Data were synthesised descriptively and narratively in accordance with scoping review methodology. Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, covering eight WHO EMR countries and one regional audit. Evidence was unevenly distributed, centre-based outpatient CR predominated, and losses were most evident at referral and enrolment stages. CR evidence across the WHO EMR remains fragmented and uneven. Stronger referral pathways, greater service capacity, and flexible delivery models are needed, including in Saudi Arabia.