Early Cardiac Rehabilitation — RACP Adult Medicine MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasyCardiologyEarly Cardiac RehabilitationRACP Adult Medicine

A 72-year-old man with recent STEMI undergoes primary PCI. He is commenced on aspirin, ticagrelor, atorvastatin 80 mg, and ramipril. He has diabetes. According to the 2025 Australian ACS guideline, when should cardiac rehabilitation commence?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: E — Before hospital discharge (early referral)

The 2025 Australian ACS guideline strongly recommends referral to cardiac rehabilitation BEFORE hospital discharge, with programme commencement within 1–4 weeks of discharge. Early cardiac rehabilitation improves cardiovascular outcomes, reduces readmission, improves quality of life, and reduces mortality. Components include supervised exercise training, risk factor management, psychosocial support, and secondary prevention education. Despite strong evidence, cardiac rehabilitation participation rates in Australia remain suboptimal (~30–40%). All ACS patients should be offered and encouraged to attend.

Reference: NHF/CSANZ – 2025 – Australian ACS Guideline; NHF – 2024 – Cardiac Rehabilitation