Census of Cardiology of Exercise Committee 2022

Reality of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Argentina in the Last 10 Years

Abstract

Cardiac rehabilitation is a fundamental tool in the management of multiple cardiovascular diseases.In Argentina,we lack a substantial amount of descriptive,demographic,and epidemiological data on how and where cardiac rehabilitation is carried out,as well as the characteristics of the centers.Since 2011,the Exercise Cardiology Committee of the Argentine Federation of Cardiology (FAC) has been working on conducting various censuses and registries.We present this new Census and an analysis of previous ones to provide new tools and strategies that help improve the daily practice of cardiac rehabilitation in our country.Materials and Methods:The 2022 census was conducted by sending a link for immediate online responses, which was completed by representatives of the registered centers by FAC.The information collected included details about each center and epidemiological information about the patients attending each center.Results:Twenty-two cardiac rehabilitation centers(CRCs) were registered, distributed across different provinces.In all CRCs,exercise is programmed and monitored using the BORG Scale and heart rate reserve.All centers conduct an initial evaluation, exercise stress test (EST) or EST with VO2,risk stratification, and exercise planning.82% of centers incorporate aerobic and strength exercises,all of which are overseen by cardiologists.The primary reason for admission is ischemic heart disease.The two main barriers to entry are the lack of referrals and the distance to the CRCs.Conclusions:The surveyed CRCs comply with the majority of quality standards and have most of the components that a cardiac rehabilitation program should have.It is essential to continue understanding our reality to have accurate and reliable data and to provide tools for continuous improvement in our daily practice.