Helping patients manage heart disease through diet and exercise is a proven and cost-effective strategy, yet its use worldwide is limited, a new review shows.
Cardiac rehabilitation programs provide education, exercise and risk reduction and have been shown to reduce mortality by up to 25 per cent. Yet worldwide, only 39 per cent of countries have cardiac rehabilitation programs. The gap is especially noticeable in low- and middle-income countries. For example Paraguay has one rehab program for every 6.4 million inhabitants, compared to one for every 102,000 in the UK.
The authors recommend supportive health policies and alternative delivery modes, including partnerships between rich and poor countries.
Original research paper published in the journal Nature Reviews Cardiology on July 15, 2014.
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