[Not Available].

In order to treat and research the development, progression, therapy and prevention of cardiological and psychosomatic disorders and their interactions, the field of psychocardiology has been established in recent years and now offers several treatment options.The well-known somatic risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as smoking, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and acquired or congenital lipid metabolism disorders, lack of exercise, malnutrition and sleep-related disorders are often related to psychosocial risk factors. Conversely, mental illnesses such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder can also be viewed as independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

First results from post-COVID inpatient rehabilitation.

Background: COVID-19 is associated with various symptoms and psychological involvement in the long term. In view of the multifactorial triggering and maintenance of the post-COVID syndrome, a multimodal therapy with somatomedical and psychotherapeutic content is expedient. This paper compares the psychological stress of post-COVID patients and their course in rehabilitation to psychosomatic and psychocardiological patients.

[Rehabilitation for atrial fibrillation : Impact on arrhythmia and cumulative risk factors].

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in cardiovascular diseases but also in hyperthyroidism. The independent risk factors (RF) that are cumulatively the cause of AF include arterial hypertension, obesity, malnutrition, alcohol and tobacco consumption, lack of exercise, diabetes mellitus, and sleep-related breathing disorders. These cause and reinforce each other and are amplified by psychosocial RF.

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The development and course of heart disease can be decisively influenced by psychological comorbidities (especially depression, anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder). An acute or chronic cardiological disease can in turn trigger or exacerbate mental disorders. These relationships are of considerable importance for cardiac rehabilitation, since psychological comorbidities often limit activity and participation more than organic heart disease.

Heart-Focused Anxiety Affects Behavioral Cardiac Risk Factors and Quality of Life: A Follow-Up Study Using a Psycho-Cardiological Rehabilitation Concept.

Background: Heart-focused anxiety (HFA) raises the risk for adverse outcomes in patients with heart disease. Despite this great importance, it is rarely assessed in clinical practice. Three dimensions are commonly defined in the context of HFA: heart-related fear, avoidance, and attention.

Cardiac Rehabilitation in German Speaking Countries of Europe-Evidence-Based Guidelines from Germany, Austria and Switzerland LLKardReha-DACH-Part 2.

Background: Scientific guidelines have been developed to update and harmonize exercise based cardiac rehabilitation (ebCR) in German speaking countries. Key recommendations for ebCR indications have recently been published in part 1 of this journal. The present part 2 updates the evidence with respect to contents and delivery of ebCR in clinical practice, focusing on exercise training (ET), psychological interventions (PI), patient education (PE).

Patient-reported outcomes predict return to work and health-related quality of life six months after cardiac rehabilitation: Results from a German multi-centre registry (OutCaRe).

Background: Multi-component cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is performed to achieve an improved prognosis, superior health-related quality of life (HRQL) and occupational resumption through the management of cardiovascular risk factors, as well as improvement of physical performance and patients' subjective health. Out of a multitude of variables gathered at CR admission and discharge, we aimed to identify predictors of returning to work (RTW) and HRQL 6 months after CR.

Design: Prospective observational multi-centre study, enrolment in CR between 05/2017 and 05/2018.

[Effectiveness of Psychocardiological Care in Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study].

An integrative patient-centered care concept is increasingly demanded for treatment of cardiac patients with concomitant mental disorders. The present study aims to investigate the effect of an integrated concept of psycho-cardiac care (PK) versus a monodisciplinary cardiac (K) or psychosomatic (PSO) care. Patients were examined at baseline (T0), at the time of discharge from the rehabilitation program (T1) and after 6 month (T2).

Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation of LVAD Patients-Updated Recommendations from the Working Group of the German Society for Prevention and Rehabilitation of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Cardiac rehabilitation physicians are faced to an increasing number of heart failure patients supported by left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). Many of these patients have complex medical issues and prolonged hospitalizations and therefore need special cardiac rehabilitation strategies including psychological, social, and educational support which are actually poorly implemented.Cardiac rehabilitation with clear guidance and more evidence should be considered as an essential component of the patient care plan especially regarding the increasing number of destination patients and their long-term follow-up.

[Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support].

 Heart failure in a terminal stage is usually treated with a heart transplant or with implantation of ventricular assist devices (VAD). VAD treatment is increasingly chosen as a permanent therapy.  The growing number of VAD implants leads to an increased need for rehabilitation programs.

Risk factors for, and prevalence of, sleep apnoea in cardiac rehabilitation facilities in Germany: The Reha-Sleep registry.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of, and the risk factors for, sleep apnoea in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) facilities in Germany.

Methods: 1152 patients presenting for CR were screened for sleep-disordered breathing with 2-channel polygraphy (ApneaLink™; ResMed). Parameters recorded included the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI), number of desaturations per hour of recording (ODI), mean and minimum nocturnal oxygen saturation and number of snoring episodes.