National cardiac rehab plan
August 15, 2012
A NATIONAL plan is needed to
boost the number of Australians
who should be referred to cardiac
rehabilitation programs, according
to Dr Robert Grenfell, Clinical Issues
Director at the Heart Foundation.
The call comes as part of an
address by the National Heart
Foundation of Australia, at a
conference in Brisbane this week.
Cardiac rehabilitation programs are
designed to help heart attack and
heart disease patients to live an
active life and prevent the
reoccurrence of cardiac events.
The programs usually include exercise,
health education, counselling,
behaviour modification strategies
and self-management support.
“We don’t actually know how many
people are being referred to cardiac
rehab or how many are completing
these critical programs,” said Grenfell.
“It’s scandalous that these figures
are not readily available.
“But based on research studies,
we believe that only around 30% of
those who have had a heart attack
are referred to a cardiac rehabilitation
program,” he added.
According to Grenfell, cardiac
rehabilitation, either hospital-based,
community-based or home-based
via a manual, telephone or online
program, is a cost-effective
intervention that can dramatically
reduce the chances of having a
subsequent heart attack.
“Cardiac rehab may reduce the
risk of death by up to 25% and
readmission to hospital within one
year by up to 45%,” he said.
“The estimated direct hospital
cost of heart attacks were $1.19
billion in 2009, or around $25,000
per heart attack,” he added.
“Considering around half of all
coronary events occur in those
people who have had a prior event,
there is considerable health and
cost benefits in funding cardiac
rehab programs,” he added.
As such, the Heart Foundation is
calling for funding for a national
program, and has asked that the
Government increase cardiac rehab
availability across the country.
“It’s a no brainer that should be
enthusiastically supported by state
and federal treasurers and treasuries
as a key way of reducing avoidable
hospital admissions,” Grenfell said.
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