Recommendations on how to provide cardiac rehabilitation services during the COVID-19 pandemic
Hareld Kemps, R W M Brouwers, Maarten J. Cramer, H T Jørstad, Ed P. de Kluiver, R. A. Kraaijenhagen, P. M. J. C. Kuijpers, M. R. van der Linde, E. de Melker, S. F. Rodrigo, Ruud F. Spee, Madoka Sunamura, Tom Vromen, M. E. Wittekoek, Hareld Kemps, R W M Brouwers, Maarten J. Cramer, H T Jørstad, Ed P. de Kluiver, R. A. Kraaijenhagen, P. M. J. C. Kuijpers, M. R. van der Linde, E. de Melker, S. F. Rodrigo, Ruud F. Spee, Madoka Sunamura, Tom Vromen, M. E. Wittekoek
Abstract
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis is having a large impact on acute and chronic cardiac care. Due to public health measures and the reorganisation of outpatient cardiac care, traditional centre-based cardiac rehabilitation is currently almost impossible. In addition, public health measures are having a potentially negative impact on lifestyle behaviour and general well-being. Therefore, the Working Group of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Dutch Society of Cardiology has formulated practical recommendations for the provision of cardiac rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic, by using telerehabilitation programmes without face-to-face contact based on current guidelines supplemented with new insights and experiences.