Original Title: Características mínimas de un programa de rehabilitación cardiaca en la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco

Authors' objectives: Determine the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation programmes compared with normal care, as well as the manner of applying the most efficient exercise, while also including the possibility of homecare programmes, the need for psychological treatment and the results in patients considered to be at risk due to their age or due to diminished ventricular function. A project is provided for carrying out this programme in practice and its corresponding cost.

Authors' results and conclusions: The results of exercise-based rehabilitation, the psychological programme in cardiac rehabilitation, multifactorial rehabilitation, homecare programmes, occupational therapy and specific programmes of education and modification of risk factors are shown. An economic valuation with regard to the initiation of cardiac rehabilitation in the Basque Autonomous Community is also presented. MAIN RESULTS: Rehabilitation in coronary disease patients improves their functional capacity and effort tolerance without added risk, also in the case of low ejection fraction. Educational programmes and modification of risk factors are useful measures for controlling lipids, diet, reducing the smoking habit, sedentary lifestyle, improving the diameter of coronary arteries and increasing the functional capacity. The correction of the type A personality and stress reduce the mortality rate. There are no tests on elderly patients or women in particular. The homecare programmes are effective and safe at least for low risk patients.

Authors' recommendations: Cardiac rehabilitation is appropriate for the physical and emotional recovery of coronary patients. It is effective and safe for cases of diminished ejection fraction. Preference will be given to an effort training plan with additional education about the disease and the control of risk factors, as well as psychological treatment for stress-related cases, behavioural disturbances, difficulty to follow the programme and risk control measures, or anxiety or depression symptoms.

Authors' methods: SEARCH STRATEGY: A search of computer databases was made using filters for randomised and controlled tests from January 1985 to December 2000, limiting the language to English, French and Spanish. SELECTION CRITERIA: Men and women of all ages and with one or several of the following conditions: Acute Myocardial Infarction, Angina, Aorto-coronary Bypass or Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty who were treated with some form of effort training or exercise, with complementary psychological therapy, education, modification of coronary risk factors, or occupational therapy, all of which we call multifactorial. This paper also assesses educational and risk factor modification measures as a way of extending long-term rehabilitation as a secondary prevention.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2003

URL for published report: https://www.euskadi.eus/contenidos/informacion/2003_osteba_publicacion/es_def/adjuntos/2003/d_03-02_rehabilitacion_cardiaca.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Spain

Organisation Name: Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: C/ Donostia – San Sebastián, 1 (Edificio Lakua II, 4ª planta) 01010 Vitoria - Gasteiz

Contact Name: Lorea Galnares-Cordero

Contact Email: lgalnares@bioef.eus

Copyright: <p>Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment, Health Department Basque Government (OSTEBA)</p>