Abstract

BURDIAT, Gerard et al. Situación actual de la rehabilitación cardíaca en Uruguay. Rev.Urug.Cardiol. [online]. 2011, vol.26, n.1, pp.8-15. ISSN 1688-0420.

Background: prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) diseases has increased being currently responsible of 30% of deaths worldwide. Therefore, it is essential to introduce changes in unhealthy lifestyles to control this raising pattern. In this regard, cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) programs play an important role in controlling cardiovascular risk factors and in the prevention of new cardiac events. Objective: to evaluate the status of CR programs in Uruguay. Method: a written questionnaire was sent to a representative population of identified CR centres in Uruguay. The data collected were correlated with information gathered from the Asociación Española to extrapolate the number of cardiac events during a year in the whole country and estimate the the rate of patients referred to the CR centres. Results: six out of the 12 centres identified answered the questionnaire. Less than 4% of the eligible cardiac patients have access to these programs. The main barrier for participation was the lack of referral from the cardiologist or the primary care physician. Coronary artery disease is the most common pathology identified in patients participating in CR programs. Patients were most involved in phase II (66.7%), phase III and IV (100%). No program offered an initial phase I. Around 83% of the CR programs performed an opening evaluation of the patient. All centres stratify, plan and counsel about physical activity, nutrition and smoking. Only half of the cases were referred to a psychologist. Lipid profile and glycemia were evaluated in 83.3% of the patients, however, lipoprotein a, Apo A, Apo B, and coronary calcium score were not determined in any CR program. Most of the CR centres had a cardiologist (100%), nurse practitioner (83.3%), physical trainers (66.7%), physical therapists and dieticians (50%), sport medicine specialists and psychiatrists (16.7%), all of them certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Conclusion: this study was the first attempt to evaluate the situation of CR programs in Uruguay. Despite the recognized value of CR in the care of patients after a cardiac event, this information showed a deficiency in the referral to CR programs and also identified the urgent need to organize, and strengthen multidisciplinary centres for secondary cardiac prevention.

Keywords :     CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE     SECONDARY PREVENTION     CARDIAC REHABILITATION.

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