The Italian Alliance for Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Prevention (ITACARE-P) Registry: An Observational Study on Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients With Coronary Disease or Heart Failure

The ITACARE-P CardioRehab Registry, is a nationwide observational project conducted in Italy. It is led by the Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi in Milan and involves several hospitals and rehabilitation centers across all the Country.

The main goal of the present study is to better understand how cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is being delivered to patients who have experienced heart-related conditions (coronary deseases or heart failure). Cardiac rehabilitation is a structured program that includes exercise, lifestyle education, and psychological support. It is known to help patients recover faster, reduce the risk of future heart problems, lower hospital readmissions, and improve quality of life.

Despite strong recommendations from international guidelines, not all eligible patients are referred to cardiac rehabilitation, and CR programs are not always delivered in a consistent way. This study aims to collect real-world data to:

• Describe how CR programs are implemented in different hospitals,
• Evaluate whether patients are meeting treatment goals (such as improved fitness, lower cholesterol, or better medication use),
• Identify patient groups that may need different types of care,
• Support future improvements in heart care services in Italy and beyond.

The central idea behind the study is that systematically collecting and analyzing data on patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation can highlight what works best, help standardize care, and improve long-term health outcomes for people with heart disease. By understanding how care is delivered and what results are achieved, the study aims to improve the quality and equity of cardiac rehabilitation services across Italy.

Adults who recently had a heart condition that qualifies them for cardiac rehabilitation will be included.

This is not a treatment trial, and no experimental therapies are given. Instead, the study observes what happens during standard care. Patients will continue to receive their normal rehabilitation program/care. Information will be collected about:

Basic personal and medical data (such as age, blood pressure, cholesterol),

Risk factors (like smoking, diabetes, weight),

Emotional well-being and quality of life,

Functional improvements (like exercise capacity),

Medication use.

Patients will also be contacted by phone at 6 and 12 months after their program to check on their health and whether they have had any additional heart-related problems.

There are no added risks because this study does not involve any changes to a patient's usual care. While there are no direct personal benefits, participants may experience better tracking of their health indicators. More importantly, their participation helps researchers and healthcare providers improve care for future patients.

All personal health data will be kept confidential and protected according to European Union data protection regulations (GDPR). A secure online system (REDCap) will be used to collect and manage the data. The information will be pseudo-anonymized, meaning names and personal identifiers will ben removed, so no one can be identified and only authorized staff will have access to the data and it will only be used for scientific and quality improvement .

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with coronary artery disease and/or heart failure who meet the current regulatory requirements for appropriateness of referral to cardiac rehabilitation are eligible for enrollment. These patients may be included regardless of whether they are referred to inpatient or outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs, depending on the clinical setting and care pathway.

Exclusion criteria

• Explicit refusal to participate in the study by the patient;
• Planned hospital readmission within six months after completion of the cardiac rehabilitation program.