Telerehabilitation to Support Post-Discharge Recovery in Patients with Heart Disease

In recent years, advances in medical technology have shortened the length of hospital stays for patients with heart disease. However, concerns about recurrence after discharge may lead patients to restrict their activities. Cardiac rehabilitation is particularly important for preventing recurrence and improving quality of life. Until now, outpatient rehabilitation has been the standard approach. However, research is advancing to enable patients to continue rehabilitation safely at home through telerehabilitation. Tele-cardiac rehabilitation involves real-time, two-way communication with physicians and rehabilitation specialists via smartphones or computers. By monitoring electrocardiograms, heart rate, fatigue levels, and other parameters, personalized guidance can be provided to each patient. We believe this system can reduce patients' anxiety and expand their range of activities after discharge. This paper explains the background behind the growing interest in tele-cardiac rehabilitation, the types of tele-cardiac rehabilitation, its benefits, and future challenges.