Recent Strategies for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Myocardial Infarction (MI) is a severe cardiac crisis that can result in significant morbidity and death. ST segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is irreparable myocardial damage caused by persistent ischaemia, and while the adage “time is muscle” remains true, rapid and prompt detection of MI continues to be a key concern. Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) is the most significant evidencebased intervention for secondary prevention following STEMI. However, only a small proportion of patients have access to a cardiovascular recovery programme. Recent research implies that exercise-based CR provides significant benefits to patients with cardiovascular disease, including a lower risk of MI, a likely slight decline in all causes of mortality, a massive reduction in all-cause hospitalisation, along with associated medical costs, and enhanced Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) upto a year of followup. Adapting rehabilitation programmes to existing abilities based on experience in the field of activity is becoming a major solution in the current CR training programme selection. The effectiveness of both centre-based and home-based therapy is proven. Telerehabilitation and home-based rehabilitation strategies have gained much importance during the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Further research is needed to standardise the treatment quality for patients with home-based CR.

Keywords

• coronavirus disease-2019
• mobile application
• myocardial infarction
• physiotherapy
• telerehabilitation