Comprehensive secondary cardiovascular prevention and cardiac rehabilitation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Cardiac rehabilitation is a key component of secondary prevention for patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, long-term provision of medical evaluation, prescriptive exercise, cardiac risk factor modification, and education. Not only does cardiac rehabilitation reduce cardiovascular mortality and hospital readmissions, but it also improves the functional status and quality of life for patients. Despite the strong evidence and recommendation for referral to and utilization of cardiac rehabilitation early in the postoperative period, it remains underutilized, especially in the elderly and women.