title: Rehabilitation practice patterns for patients with heart failure: the South American perspective.
abstract: Heart failure (HF) is an important public health issue in South America. Economic impacts are substantial. Chagas heart disease is a prevalent HF etiology; it is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an integral component of HF care. The benefits of CR in HF patients need to be assessed. The effectiveness and safety of CR delivery, such as home-based interventions, should be explored. Strategies to improve adherence in CR are imperative. We describe past and current CR trends for HF patients and discuss the future of this important intervention.
authors.affiliation: Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Laboratory, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rod Washington Luis Km 235 - SP - 310, Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo 13565-90, Brazil. Electronic address: audrey@ufscar.br.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borghi-Silva
authors.affiliation: Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Laboratory, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rod Washington Luis Km 235 - SP - 310, Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo 13565-90, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trimer
authors.affiliation: Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Laboratory, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rod Washington Luis Km 235 - SP - 310, Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo 13565-90, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: Integrative Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, 1918 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Ross A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.affiliation: Clinical Hospital, Rehabilitation Institute Lucy Montoro, Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo 14048-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Schwartzmann
mesh_terms: D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Chagas cardiomyopathy; Chronic heart failure; Referral; Rehabilitation