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Cardiac Rehabilitation: Indications, Benefits, and New Approaches

Victoria L. Boggiano, MD, MPH
Rana Alkhaldi, MD
Amir H. Barzin, DO, MS

American Family Physician. 2025;112(3):272-277.

Author disclosure: No relevant financial relationships.

This clinical content conforms to AAFP criteria for CME.

Cardiac rehabilitation consists of comprehensive risk factor reduction with demonstrated effectiveness in combating cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association defines cardiac rehabilitation as a supervised program to improve cardiovascular health through a combination of exercise, education, and emotional counseling for those who have had a myocardial infarction, heart failure, angioplasty, or heart surgery. Cardiac rehabilitation programs involve evaluations by a team of specialists, structured exercise, and lifestyle risk factor modification, and a focus on long-term goals to improve overall health and reduce coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality. Family physicians play a vital role in ensuring that patients are connected to and complete cardiac rehabilitation training because the program remains underused nationwide. After a coronary heart disease event and cardiac rehabilitation, these programs continue to support patients by helping them adhere to lifestyle modifications.

VICTORIA L. BOGGIANO, MD, MPH, is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

RANA ALKHALDI, MD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

AMIR H. BARZIN, DO, MS, FAAFP, is an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Address correspondence to Victoria L. Boggiano, MD, MPH, at boggiano@email.unc.edu.

Author disclosure: No relevant financial relationships.

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