Section 1: What Is Cardiac Rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) is a medically supervised program that combines structured exercise, education, and psychological support to help you recover from heart surgery and reduce your risk of future cardiac events. It is not optional — it is one of the most evidence-based interventions in all of cardiovascular medicine.
THE EVIDENCE
What the research shows
A 2016 Cochrane review of over 14,000 patients found that cardiac rehabilitation reduces cardiovascular mortality by approximately 26% and hospitalizations by 18%. Completing a full cardiac rehab program after CABG is associated with a 25–30% reduction in long-term mortality.
THE GAP
Why so few patients complete it
Despite this evidence, fewer than 20% of eligible patients in the United States complete cardiac rehabilitation. The most common reasons are lack of referral, transportation barriers, and not understanding what it involves or why it matters.
This module addresses all of that.