Salaheddin Sharif
University of Benghazi, Libya
Title: The importance of cardiac rehab in CAD is more than just exercise
Biography
Biography: Salaheddin Sharif
Abstract
The term Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) refers to coordinated, multifaceted interventions designed to optimize a cardiac patient’s physical, psychological, and social functioning, in addition to stabilizing, slowing, or even reversing the progression of the underlying atherosclerotic processes, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. CR is recommended useful and effective by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACA) in the treatment of patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Cardiac rehabilitation, aims at returning the patient back to normal functioning in a safe and effective manner and to enhance the psychosocial and vocational state of the patient. A meta-analysis based on a review of 48 randomized trials that compared outcomes of exercise-based rehabilitation with usual medical care, showed a reduction of 20% in total mortality and 26% in cardiac mortality rates, with exercise-based rehabilitation compared with usual medical care. Comprehensive CR should include the following components: clinical evaluation, optimization of pharmacotherapy, physical training, psychological rehabilitation, evaluation and reduction of coronary disease risk factors, life style modification, and patient education. Comprehensive CR should be addressed by the designated team (Physician, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Physiotherapist, Nurse, Psychologist, Dietician, Social worker). The safety of cardiac rehabilitation exercise programs is well established, and the occurrence of major cardiovascular events during supervised exercise is extremely low. As hospital stays decrease, cardiac rehabilitation is assuming an increasingly important role in secondary prevention. Modern model of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation should be initiated as early as possible.