Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Significantly Reduces Heart Attack Risk and Hospital Admissions
A recent comprehensive review has found that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation leads to a 28% relative reduction in the risk of heart attacks and a 35% reduction in all-cause hospital admissions for individuals with coronary heart disease. The review, which analyzed 107 randomized controlled trials involving 26,886 participants, concluded that structured movement is a highly potent primary medical therapy. Notably, the study also determined that home-based and digital rehabilitation programs are as effective as traditional in-person sessions, enhancing accessibility for patients. Common exercises included in the review were aerobic exercise, static cycling, and circuit training. According to Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, a board-certified consultative cardiologist, preventing one heart attack for every 71 participants within 6 to 12 months represents a significant return on investment, comparable to or exceeding the efficacy of daily medications over longer periods.
