Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States among men and women.1 It is also a major cause of physical disability, particularly in the rapidly growing population of elderly persons.2,3 In 1997, acute myocardial infarction was diagnosed in 1.1 million Americans, and 800,000 patients underwent coronary revascularization.1 The prevention of subsequent coronary events and the maintenance of physical functioning in such patients are major challenges in preventive care.Cardiac-rehabilitation programs were first developed in the 1960s,46 once the benefits of ambulation during prolonged hospitalization for coronary events had been recognized.7 After discharge from . . .