Key Summary
- Seven digital cardiac rehab tools get conditional NICE approval
- Used for three years while more effectiveness data is gathered
- Aims to reach groups with low rehab uptake and improve heart recovery
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has conditionally recommended seven digital platforms that support cardiac rehabilitation for adult patients.
The seven platforms, Activate Your Heart, D REACH-HF, Digital Heart Manual, Gro Health HeartBuddy, KiActiv, myHeart, and Pumping Marvellous Cardiac Rehab Platform, can be used during a three-year evidence generation period while more data is collected about their long-term effectiveness.
These platforms provide exercise programmes, education related to cardiovascular disease and its treatment, dietary advice, medication management and psychological support.
Some platforms also incorporate wearable devices to monitor activity levels.
NICE HealthTech programme director Dr Anastasia Chalkidou said "The early data is promising and suggests, with safeguards in place, more people should now be given the opportunity to use these new technologies.
“This three-year evidence collection period will give us the additional robust data we need to determine whether these innovations should be recommended as a permanent part of cardiac care."
The guidance also suggests additional support may be needed for older people, those with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, or those who don't have English as a first language.
Cardiovascular disease affects millions of people across the UK, but there are few takers for traditional cardiac rehabilitation programmes.
In 2023, only 41 percent of eligible people with acute coronary syndrome, which includes heart attack and angina, participated in cardiac rehabilitation programmes in England.
Cardiac rehabilitation helps reduce the risk of further heart problems and hospital readmissions.
Digital platforms could therefore provide support to communities where uptake remains persistently low, particularly among women, younger people, ethnic minorities, those in deprived areas and those who struggle to attend face-to-face sessions.
