Final guidance published by NICE has conditionally recommended seven innovative digital technologies to support cardiac rehabilitation for adults with cardiovascular disease in the NHS.
The 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 further data is collected to address uncertainties about long-term effectiveness.
Each technology offers:
- Exercise programmes tailored for cardiac recovery
- Education on cardiovascular disease and treatment
- Dietary advice and medication management
- Psychological support for patients
Some platforms also integrate wearable devices to monitor activity levels.
Cardiovascular disease affects millions across the UK, yet uptake of traditional cardiac rehabilitation remains low. In 2023, only 41% of eligible patients with acute coronary syndrome and 13% of those with heart failure participated in rehab programmes in England.
Digital solutions could help reach underserved communities, including women, younger people, ethnic minorities, and those in deprived areas or unable to attend face-to-face sessions.
However, NICE stresses that digital rehab is not suitable for everyone. A trained NHS professional must conduct a full clinical assessment before recommending these technologies. Additional support may be needed for older adults, people with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, or individuals who do not speak English as a first language.
HealthTech Programme Director at NICE, Dr Anastasia Chalkidou, said:
“These digital platforms offer real potential to transform how cardiac rehabilitation is offered to people to meet their individual circumstances. We know that traditional programmes aren't reaching everyone who could benefit - particularly women, younger patients and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
"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."
Five other platforms – Beat Better, Datos Health, Get Ready, Luscii vitals, and R Plus Health – require further research and should only be used in research settings.
After the three-year evidence period, NICE will review all data to decide whether these technologies should be routinely adopted across the NHS.
Image credit: iStock
