Regional disparities in cardiac rehabilitation volume throughout Japan based on open data from a National Database of Health Insurance Claims.

This study assessed the regional disparities and the associated factors in the implementation of cardiac rehabilitation in Japan. Regional disparities were investigated by comparing the number of cardiac rehabilitation units in each of 47 prefectures in Japan based on the National Database of Health Insurance Claims Open Data published by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. The relationships between the numbers of inpatient and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation units and the numbers of registered instructors of cardiac rehabilitation, board-certified physiatrists, and board-certified cardiologists were examined.

Comparison of haemodynamic response to muscle reflex in heart failure with reduced vs. preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: Isometric handgrip (IHG) training reduces the blood pressure in patients with hypertension. It is unclear how IHG exercise affects the haemodynamics and cardiovascular function through the muscle reflex in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced (HFrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Methods And Results: Twenty patients (HFrEF: n = 10, HFpEF: n = 10) underwent left ventricular (LV) pressure-volume assessments using a conductance catheter and microtip manometer to evaluate haemodynamics, LV and arterial function, and LV-arterial coupling during 3 min of IHG at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), followed by 3 min of post-exercise circulatory arrest (PECA).