Cardiac rehabilitation services in Bangladesh and other low- and middle-income countries remain out of reach for millions of patients due to inadequate resources, leaving many without the treatment and support they need after heart disease.
To address the gap, an international five-year research programme has been launched in Bangladesh and Pakistan to develop an affordable, accessible and culturally appropriate model of cardiac rehabilitation, including mental health support, according to a press release from Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS).
The programme, titled “Affordable Cardiac Rehabilitation: An Outreach Interdisciplinary Strategic Study (ACROSS),” began its work on July 1 last year and is being funded by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
The University of Glasgow and the University of Manchester are leading the programme, while the Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS) is implementing it in the country in collaboration with Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital and Research Institute, Bangladesh Medical University and the National Heart Foundation and Research Institute.
The programme will involve patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and policymakers in developing a culturally appropriate, affordable and home-based cardiac rehabilitation model.
The programme will also integrate mental health services, including support for anxiety and depression, with cardiac rehabilitation.
“Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death and one of the largest contributors to disability globally,” said Prof Rod Taylor of the University of Glasgow, co-lead of the ACROSS programme.
He expressed hope that the programme would play an important role in ensuring effective, accessible and affordable rehabilitation services for people in South Asia and South Asian communities living in the UK.
Prof Imran Chaudhry of the Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning, another co-lead of the programme, said patients and healthcare professionals were at the centre of the programme’s planning and implementation.
He said the initiative would strengthen the long-term capacity of health systems and bring sustainable benefits to cardiac and mental health rehabilitation.
Prof JMA Hannan, vice-chancellor of BUHS, said the research, conducted through international collaboration, would generate important evidence for the health sciences sector.
The evidence would support policymaking and practical implementation and help strengthen Bangladesh’s health system capacity to manage long-term complex diseases, he said.
