Australia's heart care system is at a crossroads. With a 75% reduction in heart disease mortality over six decades, the nation has achieved remarkable progress. But this success story has an unexpected twist: a growing number of Australians living with heart disease now require long-term support, and by 2050, the global number of people with heart disease is predicted to increase tenfold. This escalating challenge demands a bold reimagining of cardiac rehabilitation, ensuring it remains a cornerstone of care.
Each year, 500,000 Australians are hospitalized with heart conditions, facing a tenfold higher risk of future heart attacks. Within three years, 40% are readmitted, and 20% lose their lives. The financial burden exceeds $14 billion annually and continues to rise. Cardiac rehabilitation, a proven yet underutilized approach, has been the traditional recovery method for 60 years. These programs, typically lasting 6-8 weeks, provide supervised exercise, education, and psychological support. Research shows they reduce recurrent events, improve quality of life, and facilitate a return to work and community life.
However, these programs have not adapted to modern needs, resulting in underutilization, underfunding, and uneven access. Less than half of eligible patients are referred, and even fewer attend. This gap in care affects over 375,000 Australians annually. The term 'cardiac rehabilitation' itself presents a challenge, implying a finite recovery period rather than promoting lifelong cardiovascular health. Global efforts are required to improve quality, evaluate new care models, and ensure access for all.
Ross's story exemplifies this issue. After a heart procedure, he received minimal follow-up and had to seek support to rebuild his confidence. His journey led him to facilitate peer support sessions, helping others navigate the physical and emotional challenges post-cardiac event. Ross's story reminds us that recovery is about restoring purpose and connection, not just exercise or short-term education.
SOLVE-CHD, a National Health and Medical Research Council initiative, aims to bridge the evidence-access gap. A multidisciplinary team is redesigning rehabilitation to be more personalized, digital, and equitable. The Heart2Heart clinical trial, for instance, evaluates a digital peer support app, connecting people with heart disease. This innovative approach leverages technology and lived experiences to provide empathy and continuity of care beyond hospitals.
SOLVE-CHD's mission is to make cardiac rehabilitation an integral part of heart care. By generating national data, quality benchmarks, and implementation tools, they aim to strengthen service delivery and empower clinicians. A collective call to action is needed to future-proof heart care in Australia. The team is working with the World Heart Federation to create a Roadmap for lifelong cardiovascular health, addressing inequities and ensuring a tailored approach for diverse groups.
Australia has the opportunity to lead the way in ensuring comprehensive care and support for all heart event survivors. It's time to listen, invest, and act, so that individuals like Ross can fully recover and thrive. This is a call to clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to collaborate and ensure that every Australian receives the best possible heart care.
