A Review of the Digital Era of Cardiac Rehabilitation: From Centres to Screens
-
Ajith Kumar Pichai
,
Senthil Kumar Thillai Govindarajan
,
Shanmugasundaram Sadhanandham
,
Ramamurthy Karthik
Abstract
Introduction: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a vital measure aimed at improving the quality of life (QoL) and preventing secondary complications and recurrence in individuals with a high cardiac risk profile. As an alternative to traditional CR, e-rehabilitation (e-rehab) using smartphones or web-based platforms is a modern solution for effective CR. This study aimed to identify its implementation and evaluate its effectiveness on functional capacity, adherence, and QoL.
Materials and Methods: A systematic search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted in electronic databases, such as Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, between January 2015 and January 2025. The selected studies included e-rehab as an intervention, implemented through a hybrid model, among a heart disease population. A total of 210 studies were identified, of which 13 with higher-quality evidence were selected as appropriate to our scope.
Results: CR using the e-rehab protocol improved functional capacity and QoL. Participants’ follow-up rates and interest were noticeably lower in traditional CR compared to e-rehab.
Conclusion: Overall, e-rehab-based CR was effective, but when implemented alongside telemonitoring devices, it may reduce the risk of physical activity-induced adverse reactions. Such a model enhances patients’ willingness to enroll in exercise-based CR.
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| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 20 No 2 (2026) | |
| Section | Review Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/jmr.v20i2.21709 | |
| Keywords | ||
| E-rehabilitation Tele-rehabilitation Hybrid model of cardiac rehabilitation Virtual rehabilitation Remote cardiac rehabilitation Cardiac rehabilitation Cardiovascular disease | ||
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