NICE has conditionally recommended six digital technologies to support cardiac rehabilitation, enabling remote monitoring and patient support while further evidence is evaluated
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has conditionally recommended six digital technologies to support cardiac rehabilitation. These tools, which include platforms such as Activate Your Heart and MyHeart, aim to improve access to rehabilitation services, enable remote monitoring, and provide patients with tailored support. At the same time, further evidence is collected on their effectiveness.
Cardiac rehabilitation uptake remains low in the UK
Cardiovascular disease affects millions across the UK, yet traditional cardiac rehabilitation programmes have garnered little interest from affected individuals. This could be due to various factors such as lack of accessibility, time constraints, or social stigma. In 2023, only 41% of eligible people with acute coronary syndrome, which includes heart attack and angina, and 13% of those with heart failure, participated in cardiac rehabilitation programmes in England.
Cardiac rehabilitation is a proven treatment that reduces the risk of further heart problems and hospital readmissions. Digital platforms can be instrumental in increasing uptake, particularly in women, younger people, ethnic minorities, those in deprived areas, and those who struggle to attend face-to-face sessions.
Digital technologies to transform cardiovascular disease care
The six platforms – Activate Your Heart, D REACH-HF, Digital Heart Manual, Gro Health HeartBuddy, KiActiv and myHeart – are to be used during a three-year evidence generation period whilst more data is collected to address uncertainties about their long-term effectiveness.
- Activate Your Heart – an online cardiac rehabilitation programme developed by the NHS to help patients exercise safely, eat healthily, and manage risk factors.
- D REACH-HF – a digital version of the Rehabilitation EnAblement in CHronic Heart Failure programme, focused on supporting heart failure patients and caregivers.
- Digital Heart Manual – an interactive online version of the traditional Heart Manual, providing education, lifestyle advice, and support after cardiac events.
- Gro Health HeartBuddy – an app that uses personalised behaviour change programmes to support heart health through nutrition, activity, sleep, and mental wellbeing.
- KiActiv – a digital platform that tracks daily physical activity and helps patients build sustainable lifestyle habits for long-term heart health.
- MyHeart – a digital tool providing cardiac rehab support and self-management resources for patients recovering from heart disease.
Each platform includes exercise programmes, cardiovascular education, dietary advice, medication management, and psychological support. Some platforms will consist of wearable devices to monitor activity levels.
“These digital platforms offer real potential to transform how cardiac rehabilitation is offered to people to meet their circumstances. We know that traditional programmes aren’t reaching everyone who could benefit – particularly women, younger patients and people from ethnic minority backgrounds,” commented Dr Anastasia Chalkidou, HealthTech programme director at NICE
Dr Chalkidou added: “The early data is promising and suggests, with safeguards in place, more people should now be allowed 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.”
Furthermore, there are seven additional digital technologies – Beat Better, Datos Health, Get Ready, Luscii vitals, Pumping Marvellous Cardiac Rehab Platform, R Plus Health and Sword Move – that do require more research before the NHS can fund them and should only be used in research settings.
