Comparing a Novel Telehealth-enabled Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation Program to Clinic-based Cardiac Rehabilitation for Improving Patient Engagement, Functional Outcomes, and Health Equity after ACS

PROJECT ABSTRACT Cardiac rehabilitation (CR)—which involves exercise training, patient education, and health behavior modification—is a comprehensive intervention traditionally delivered in clinic-based settings, with the highest recommendation and level of evidence classification (i.e., Class I, Level A) for secondary prevention. Traditional CR significantly reduces rates of reinfarction (by 47%) and both cardiac (36%) and all-cause mortality (26%) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) survivors, an extremely sedentary population whose functional status and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) improve after CR participation. Despite the well-established effectiveness of traditional CR—benefits achieved through continued program participation (i.e., adherence), fewer than 10% of eligible ACS patients in the US who initiate CR (