THERE IS a risk that cardiac rehabilitation, despite contributing to a major reduction in heart disease in the Republic, may fall victim to financial cutbacks, a leading heart specialist has said.
Dr Vincent Maher, president of the Irish Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation and consultant cardiologist at the Adelaide, Meath and National Childrens hospital, Tallaght, said the rehabilitation of patients after heart attack or bypass surgery was one of the great successes of the national cardiovascular strategy. "However, my fear is that this important initiative will be considered less important than emergency care as health service finances come under pressure," he told The Irish Times.
Speaking at the inaugural Walk with Heart event at the Phoenix Park, Dublin yesterday, which was launched by President Mary McAleese, Dr Maher said cardiac rehabilitation programmes had produced a 26 per cent reduction in cardiac events and deaths since they were introduced in 1995.
Cardiac rehabilitation is available at 38 units across the country, representing 95 per cent of hospitals treating people with acute heart disease. Every year some 4,200 people in the State receive a comprehensive package of care over a 10- to 12-week period, although it is estimated that about 9,000 people could benefit from a rehabilitation programme.
Designed to minimise the risk of future heart attack by pro-actively addressing issues such as diet, exercise and stress that may have contributed to the person's recent hospitalisation, cardiac rehabilitation is seen as a key element in the secondary prevention of heart disease.
Staffed by cardiologists, physiotherapists, specialist nurses, occupational therapists and dietitians, cardiac rehabilitation programmes help patients cope with the physical and psychological after-effects of heart attacks and bypass procedures.
Dr Maher said the growing obesity epidemic meant that the numbers requiring cardiac rehabilitation was likely to rise. To ensure that everyone who requires rehabilitation receives it, he said: "My vision is that every gymnasium in the country would provide exercise facilities for patients with proven heart disease."