The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has conditionally recommended six digital platforms for supporting cardiac rehabilitation in adults with cardiovascular disease, allowing their use within the NHS during a three-year trial period to collect evidence on their long-term effectiveness.

These platforms enable patients to complete cardiac recovery at home, aiming to improve access for millions affected by cardiovascular disease, especially among groups traditionally underrepresented in traditional rehab programs.

All platforms should be used only after a full clinical assessment to ensure suitability, considering barriers such as digital literacy, device access, and specific patient needs, with additional support potentially necessary for vulnerable populations like older adults, disabled individuals, homeless people, or non-English speakers.

Early data suggests these digital platforms can enhance engagement and health outcomes, including improvements in exercise capacity, cardiovascular risk profiles, and quality of life for users.

Evidence from clinical studies indicates these platforms can effectively support rehabilitation, with data being collected during the trial on clinical outcomes, safety, cost-effectiveness, and how they compare to standard care.

Cardiac rehab is proven to reduce repeat cardiac events and hospital readmissions, but participation remains low among women, younger patients, ethnic minorities, and those unable to attend in person, highlighting the importance of accessible digital solutions.

The draft recommendations are open for public consultation until September 3, 2025, inviting stakeholder feedback via the NICE website.

In addition to the six recommended platforms, seven other digital technologies require further research and are recommended only for use within research settings before routine NHS adoption.

The approved platforms—Activate Your Heart, D REACH-HF, Digital Heart Manual, Gro Health HeartBuddy, KiActiv, and myHeart—offer services including exercise, education, dietary advice, medication management, and psychological support, with some incorporating wearable devices for monitoring.

These digital tools aim to improve access to cardiac rehab for underserved groups, emphasizing the need for clinical assessment before use to ensure safety and appropriateness.

Following the three-year trial, NICE will review the collected data to decide on the potential routine NHS adoption of these digital platforms.