Home-based cardiac rehab produces strong outcomes at lower costs, study finds

A comprehensive review published in Cureus examined home-based heart failure management as a solution to post-pandemic cardiovascular care challenges. Heart failure, a condition where the heart cannot pump blood effectively, typically affects older adults.

The analysis found that home-based cardiac rehabilitation produces outcomes equivalent to clinic-based programs while reducing hospitalizations and healthcare costs. Mobile health applications and telehealth monitoring significantly improved medication adherence — taking prescribed drugs as directed — and quality of life for heart failure patients.

Successful post-pandemic cardiovascular care programs incorporated multidisciplinary teams including doctors, nurses and patient educators. Key components included symptom monitoring, dietary guidance limiting salt intake to prevent fluid retention, exercise programs and medication management.

The review emphasized that home-based care requires comprehensive patient education about heart failure symptoms, proper nutrition and when to seek emergency care. While challenges include limited infrastructure and standardized protocols, the research suggests post-pandemic cardiovascular care delivered at home can effectively bridge gaps created by hospital access disruptions.

Meanwhile, a Massachusetts study tracking cardiac mortality from 2014–2024 found that post-pandemic care disruptions contributed to sustained increases in heart-related deaths among older adults. Researchers analyzed death certificates for 127,746 individuals with an average age of 77 years, discovering that annual cardiac deaths exceeded expected rates by 16% in 2020, 17% in 2021, 17% in 2022, and 6% in 2023.

Notably, more cardiac deaths occurred at home rather than in hospitals during the pandemic period. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that post-pandemic cardiovascular care disruptions — including hospital avoidance and reduced access to emergency services — may have shifted where people die from heart-related causes. The elevated monthly cardiac mortality rates persisted through mid-2024, well beyond the initial COVID-19 outbreak, noted lead author Jason Wasfy, MD, director of outcomes research in the Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Division.

Together, the studies underscore the need for adaptive heart care strategies that meet older adults’ evolving needs in the post-pandemic era.