Abstract
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an integral part of the management of various cardiovascular disease such as coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), or chronic heart failure (CHF), with proven morbidity and mortality benefits. This article aims to review and summarize the scientific literature related to cardiac rehabilitation programs for patients with PAD and how they were adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of CR programs has been problematic since the COVID-19 pandemic due to social distancing and work-related restrictions. One of the main challenges for physicians and health systems alike has been the management of PAD patients. COVID-19 predisposes to coagulation disorders that can lead to severe thrombotic events. Home-based walking exercises are more accessible and easier to accept than supervised exercise programs. Cycling or other forms of exercise are more entertaining or challenging alternatives to exercise therapy. Besides treadmill exercises, upper- and lower-extremity ergometry also has great functional benefits, especially regarding walking endurance. Supervised exercise therapy has a positive impact on both functional capacity and also on the quality of life of such patients. The most effective manner to acquire this seems to be by combining revascularization therapy and supervised exercise. Rehabilitation programs proved to be a mandatory part of the integrative approach in these cases, increasing quality of life, and decreasing stress levels, depression, and anxiety.
Highlights
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are still the main cause of mortality and morbidity despite a downwards trend due to earlier diagnostic facilities and advanced interventional techniques
The implementation of Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs has been problematic since the COVID-19 panThe implementation of CR programs has been problematic since the COVID-19 pandemic due to social distancing and work-related restrictions (“smart working”)
Supervised exercise therapy has a positive impact on both functional capacity and quality of life in patients with intermittent claudication (IC)
Summary
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are still the main cause of mortality and morbidity despite a downwards trend due to earlier diagnostic facilities and advanced interventional techniques. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) (alongside risk-factor management) is an integral part of the management of various CVD such as coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), chronic heart failure (CHF) or valvular heart disease (VHD), with proven morbidity and mortality benefits [1]. This article aims to review and summarize the scientific literature related to current cardiac rehabilitation programs for patients with PAD and how they were adapted. This article aims to review and summarize the scientific literature related to current cardiac rehabilitation programs for patients with PAD and how they were adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic through telemedicine. PAD who face multiple challenges in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 grams and exercise challenges duebenefits to the COVID-19 pandemic, of these issues in pandemic, all of these issues are discussed in terms of efficacy and prognostic value.
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