Guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Northern Ireland
Coronary artery disease imposes a large burden on health and health care resources in Northern Ireland. Cardiac rehabilitation with an exercise component is often offered to patients with coronary artery disease. Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programmes incorporate an exercise programme in combination with other secondary measures such as coronary artery disease risk factor management, patient education and psychological interventions.
The evidence indicates that a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programme which includes exercise has beneficial effects on cardiac mortality and total mortality. The benefits compare favourably with standard coronary artery disease secondary prevention practice (e.g. beta blocker, anti platelet and statin therapy) in reducing cardiac and all-cause mortality. The evidence is also consistent in showing that cardiac rehabilitation is cost effective and may reduce cost to health care systems due to reduced rehospitalisation and drug utilisation. Despite the beneficial effects of participating in cardiac rehabilitation, that approximate to those that can be achieved with standard pharmacological interventions, participation in rehabilitation programmes remains sub-optimal.
Under the auspices of CREST, an expert panel was convened to review the evidence for cardiac rehabilitation with an exercise component for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease in terms of clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness. An additional objective was to focus on the impact of the evidence on the future direction and development of cardiac rehabilitation services for the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease in Northern Ireland. The panel included health care professionals from varied backgrounds including medical (primary and secondary care), nursing, management and public health and was chaired by Professor Gary McVeigh, Consultant Physician, Belfast City Hospital.
The CREST guidelines on Cardiac Rehabilitation in Northern Ireland were launched at a half-day conference, on Wednesday 24th May 2006, at the Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick. Approximately 250 delegates from the various specialties involved in the management of Cardiac Rehabilitation, including the public and private sectors, attended the conference.
CREST would like to thank Professor McVeigh, the members of the sub-group and all those who contributed in any way to the development of these guidelines. Further copies of the guidelines and executive summary can be obtained from the CREST Secretariat at crest@dhsspsni.gov.uk or gary.hannan@dhsspsni.gov.uk.
- Guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Northern Ireland (PDF 843 KB)
- Guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Northern Ireland Executive Summary (PDF 142 KB)
Guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Northern Ireland Speakers Presentations
- Exercise and Cardiac Rehabilitation (PDF 58 KB)
- Implementation, Audit and Data Collection (PDF 142 KB)
- Cardiac Rehabilitation in Primary Care (PDF 85 KB)
- Educational and Psychological Interventions in Cardiac Rehabilitation (PDF 112 KB)
- Secondary Prevention and the Role of the Clinical Pharmacist (PDF 76 KB)
- Target Patient Groups (PDF 265 KB)
