Cardiac rehabilitation in adults with congenital heart disease: care situation, barriers, and patient-reported outcomes
Authors' conclusion
Despite high expectations, the utilization of CR among ACHD remains low.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) at routine outpatient follow-up, January–November 2025345 analysed
- Participants
- 402 adults
Methodological detailspragmatic, survey, single outpatient clinic
- Pragmatic
- Survey
- Single outpatient clinic
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Knowledge, information sources, barriers and expectations regarding CR
- Actively searched for information about cardiac rehabilitation (CR)
- 24.2%
- Preferred information during personal physician consultations
- 86.3%
- Knew ACHD-specific CR programmes
- 32.8%
- Knew how to apply for CR
- 31.5%
- Already participated in rehabilitation programmes
- 34.4%
- Family obligations prevented participation
- 9.8%
- Psychological barriers reported
- 14.6%
- Expected physical improvement
- More than 90%
- Expected psychological stabilization
- 61.2%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Age- and sex-specific differences
- Self-rated general health decreased significantly with increasing age
- Family obligations significantly more common among women
- Women significantly more often rated psychological support as very important
- Older participants participated more frequently but reported more frequent application rejections
Original publication
Cardiac rehabilitation in adults with congenital heart disease: care situation, barriers, and patient-reported outcomes. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 11 August 2026. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it