The ITACARE-P CardioRehab Registry

The ITACARE-P CardioRehab Registry is a nationwide observational project conducted in Italy. It is led by the Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi in Milan and involves several hospitals and rehabilitation centres across the country. The main goal of the study is to better understand how cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is delivered to patients who have experienced heart-related conditions (coronary artery disease or heart failure). CR is a structured programme that includes exercise, lifestyle education, and psychological support. It is known to help patients recover faster, reduce the risk of future heart problems, lower hospital readmissions, and improve quality of life.

Despite strong recommendations from international guidelines, not all eligible patients are referred to CR, and programmes are not always delivered consistently. This study collects real-world data to:

• Describe how CR programmes are implemented across different hospitals;
• Evaluate whether patients meet recommended treatment targets (such as improved fitness, lower cholesterol in coronary patients, reduced heart-failure blood markers, and appropriate medication use);
• Identify patient groups that may need different types of care;
• Support future improvements in cardiac care services in Italy and beyond.

The central idea is that systematically collecting and analysing data on patients undergoing CR can highlight what works best, help standardise care, and improve long-term outcomes for people with heart disease. Adults who recently had a qualifying heart condition are included. This is not a treatment trial, and no experimental therapies are given; the study observes what happens during standard care, and patients continue their normal rehabilitation. Information collected includes: basic personal and medical data (e.g., age, blood pressure, cholesterol); risk factors (e.g., smoking, diabetes, weight); emotional well-being and quality of life; functional capacity (e.g., exercise capacity); and medication use. Patients are contacted by telephone at 6 and 12 months after the programme to assess their health and any additional cardiac events.

There are no added risks, as the study does not modify usual care. While there are no direct personal benefits, participants may benefit from closer tracking of their health indicators, and their participation helps improve care for future patients. All personal health data are kept confidential and protected in accordance with EU data protection regulations (GDPR). A secure online system (REDCap) is used to collect and manage the data, which are pseudonymised so that individuals cannot be directly identified; only authorised staff have access, and the data are used solely for scientific and quality-improvement purposes.