Recommendations on how to provide cardiac rehabilitation services during the COVID-19 pandemic

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis is having a large impact on acute and chronic cardiac care. Due to public health measures and t     

Novel advances in cardiac rehabilitation: Position paper from the Working Group on Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has evolved as an important part of the treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease. However, to date, its full potential is fairly underutilised. This review discusses new developments in CR aimed at improving participation rates and long-term effectiveness in the general cardiac population. It consecutively highlights new or challenging target groups, new delivery modes and new care pathways for CR programmes. These new or challenging target groups include patients with atrial fibrillation, obesity and cardiovascular disease, chronic coronary syndromes, (advanced) chronic heart failure with or without intracardiac devices, women and frail elderly patients. Also, the current evidence regarding cardiac telerehabilitation and loyalty programmes is discussed as new delivery modes for CR. Finally, this paper discusses novel care pathways with the integration of CR in residual risk management and transmural care pathways. These new developments can help to make optimal use of the benefits of CR. Therefore we should seize the opportunities to reshape current CR programmes, broaden their applicability and incorporate them into or combine them with other cardiovascular care programmes/pathways.     

Cardiac telerehabilitation as an alternative to centre-based cardiac rehabilitation

Netherlands Heart Journal - Multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation (CR) reduces morbidity and mortality and increases quality of life in cardiac patients. However, CR utilisation rates are low,...     

Ischaemia with no obstructive coronary arteries

Ischaemia with no obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) is a common ischaemic heart disease with a female preponderance, mostly due to underlying coronary vascular dysfunction comprising coronary microvascular dysfunction and/or epicardial coronary vasospasm. Since standard ischaemia detection tests and coronary angiograms are not suitable to diagnose coronary vascular dysfunction, INOCA is often overlooked in current cardiology practice. Future research, including large outcome trials, is much awaited. Yet, adequate diagnosis is possible and treatment options are available and vital to reduce symptoms and most probably improve cardiovascular prognosis. This review intends to give a brief overview of the clinical presentation, underlying pathophysiology, and the diagnostic and treatment options in patients with suspected INOCA.