DefinePK

Abstract

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a secondary preventionprogramme aimed at reducing the mortality andfrequency of recurrent cardiac events and contributes toimprovement in quality of life of the patients sufferingfrom cardiovascular diseases (CVD). While the healthcaresystem around the world has revolutionized, provision ofCR services is still lacking in its implementation. Accordingto statistics, < 54% of the countries actually provide CRand this percentage drops at an alarming rate of about8% and 28% in low income and lower-middle income countries(LICs/LMICs) respectively, even though the need of thisprogramme has increased exponentially. Pakistan is oneof the lower-middle income countries facing many challenges inimplementing successful healthcare programmes. Onesuch field which is neglected and often overlooked iscardiac rehabilitation. Establishing and promoting CRprogrammes in low-middle income countries is crucial asit can alleviate the financial strain of prolonged hospitalstays and help in prevention from dependency onfamilies. This review highlights the dilemma regardinglack of CR programmes in Pakistan, as well as factorsaffecting the utilization and applicability of thisprogramme.Keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation, cardiovasculardiseases, exercise training, primary prevention, secondaryprevention.