Rehabilitation after cardiovascular diseases, with special emphasis on developing countries

Fülszöveg

Cardiovascular diseases constitute the leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality in industrialized parts of the world, and now pose a growing public health problem in developing countries. Where rehabilitation and secondary prevention were once seen as valuable only to patients recovering from uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction, they are now regarded as essential to all cardiac patients. Rehabilitation in appropriate exercise programmes, education, and counselling are emerging as the most effective means of restoring patients' quality of life and independence and promoting their social reintegration. This report contains the conclusions and recommendations of a WHO Expert Committee convened to review the current status of rehabilitative care, to consider its value to both aduit and paediatric patients, and its implications for health service costs, and to propose ways and means of expanding its availability, particularly in developing countries. The Committee... Tovább

Fülszöveg

Cardiovascular diseases constitute the leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality in industrialized parts of the world, and now pose a growing public health problem in developing countries. Where rehabilitation and secondary prevention were once seen as valuable only to patients recovering from uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction, they are now regarded as essential to all cardiac patients. Rehabilitation in appropriate exercise programmes, education, and counselling are emerging as the most effective means of restoring patients' quality of life and independence and promoting their social reintegration. This report contains the conclusions and recommendations of a WHO Expert Committee convened to review the current status of rehabilitative care, to consider its value to both aduit and paediatric patients, and its implications for health service costs, and to propose ways and means of expanding its availability, particularly in developing countries. The Committee concentrated on exercise testing and training at different levels of health care, the equipment and personnel that are needed, and the types of activity best suited to patients with particular cardiovascular diseases, to paediatric patients, and to patients severely disabled by their cardiac illness. The need to educate not only patients but alsó their families, teachers, and employers is stressed throughout the report as an important element in allowing patients to resume daily occupational and recreational activities to the fullest extent possible. Vissza