The future of heart care in Australia: reimagining cardiac rehabilitation for a healthier tomorrow
The Heart's Call: A Future in Peril
Australia's cardiovascular health story is a remarkable one, with heart disease mortality rates plummeting by over 75% in the last six decades. Yet, amidst this success, a looming challenge emerges: a growing population of Australians living with heart disease who require long-term, coordinated support. By 2050, the global burden of heart disease is predicted to skyrocket, with a tenfold increase in those affected. This crisis demands a bold response, and that's where cardiac rehabilitation comes in.
A Proven Cornerstone, Underutilized
Cardiac rehabilitation has long been the cornerstone of recovery after a heart attack or procedure. For 60 years, these programs have offered supervised exercise, education, and psychological support, significantly reducing recurrent events, hospitalizations, and improving quality of life. However, despite these proven benefits, cardiac rehabilitation programs have failed to keep pace with societal changes and medical advancements. They remain underutilized, underfunded, and unevenly accessible, with less than half of eligible patients ever referred.
The Need for Reimagining
The current cardiac rehabilitation model is in dire need of a makeover. The term itself, focusing on 'cardiac' diagnoses and finite recovery periods, limits its scope. We must broaden our perspective to encompass the entire cardiovascular spectrum and promote lifelong health. This requires global efforts to enhance quality, evaluate innovative care models, and strengthen the long-term health of those living with heart disease.
A Personal Journey: Ross' Story
Ross, a train driver from the Gold Coast, embodies the struggle of many Australians. After a heart procedure, he faced minimal follow-up care and sought support to rebuild his confidence and hope. His story highlights the gap between the need for comprehensive care and the reality for many. What started as a personal recovery journey became a mission to support others, demonstrating the power of peer support and the importance of restoring purpose and connection in the recovery process.
SOLVE-CHD: Reimagining Rehabilitation
At SOLVE-CHD, a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Synergy Grant, we're working to bridge the gap between evidence and access. Our multidisciplinary team, comprising researchers, clinicians, public health professionals, and individuals with lived experience, is redesigning rehabilitation. We're making it more personalized, digital, and equitable, ensuring it becomes a consistent, accessible, and integral part of heart care, not an afterthought.
One of our projects, the Heart2Heart clinical trial, evaluates a digital peer support application connecting heart disease patients worldwide. This simple yet powerful idea harnesses technology and lived experience to provide empathy, encouragement, and continuity of care beyond hospital walls.
A Collective Call to Action
To future-proof heart care in Australia, we must reimagine our national commitment to secondary prevention. Our team is collaborating with the World Heart Federation to create a new Roadmap, outlining a pathway to lifelong cardiovascular health for all countries. We must address inequities, ensuring diverse groups are represented. Clinicians and policymakers play a pivotal role in referring patients, advocating for program expansion, and recognizing post-discharge care as vital. Researchers and policymakers should continue listening to those with lived experience, improving reach, quality, productivity, and system efficiency.
Australia has the opportunity to lead again, ensuring every Australian can recover well and live fully after a heart event. Through collective effort, it's time to listen, invest, and act, so people like Ross receive the care and support they need to live their best lives.
