M22 Cardiac Prehabilitation: A Home-Based Program

The care of patients undergoing cardiac surgery is becoming more complex, owing to increased burdens of comorbid disease, frailty, psychosocial issues and complex pathology. Cardiac rehabilitation is a well-established way to improve the outcomes of patients after a cardiac event or cardiac surgery but is a highly reactive approach. Cardiac prehabilitation on the other hand is proactive and evidence suggests that improving aerobic conditioning, respiratory muscle training, lifestyle modification, diabetic control and sleep may improve outcomes. There are however barriers to implementing these changes which may be overcome with a carefully designed program.