Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2023; 120(3): e20220135

Impact of COVID-19’s on Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Programs in Brazil: An Online Survey-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Iara de Sousa Cezário Jardim , Mauricio Milani , Isac Castro, Dominique Hansen, Marlus Karsten , Lawrence Patrick Cahalin, Graziella França Bernardelli Cipriano, Gerson Cipriano Jr

DOI: 10.36660/abc.20220135

This Original Article is referred by the Short Editorial "Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation (ECBR): New Frontiers in the Post-Novel Coronavirus".

Abstract

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) programs in Brazil.

Objectives

To describe the characteristics of CR programs in Brazil, the impacts of the first epidemiological wave of COVID-19 (first 60 days) on the programs and present the initiatives used to overcome the impacts.

Method

This cross-sectional and retrospective study utilized a specific online survey. Participants were coordinators of CR programs. Variables were presented by Brazilian geographic region and as the following categories: demographic, clinical and operational characteristics. The significance level for statistical analysis was set at 5%.

Results

Fifty-nine CR programs were responsible for 5,349 patients, of which only 1,817 were post-acute cardiovascular events, which corresponded to 1.99% of hospitalized patients in the month prior to the survey (n=91,231). The greatest impact was the suspension of on-site activities, which occurred similarly in areas with the highest and the lowest rates of COVID-19 in the period. Forty-five programs (75%) were shortly interrupted, while three (5%) were ended. All 42 programs that already used remote rehabilitation strategies noticed a substantial increase in activities, based primarily on the use of media and video calling. Only three (5%) considered safe to see patients during the first 60 days.

Conclusions

There was a reduction in the number of CR programs with the COVID-19 pandemic. Telerehabilitation activities increased during the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this was not enough to overcome the reduction in CR program activities across Brazil.