Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi. 2026 Sep 24;54(9):1060-1066. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112148-20260305-00139.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To describe the current implementation of pediatric cardiac rehabilitation in selected tertiary hospitals in China. Methods: A cross-sectional multicenter questionnaire survey was conducted in November 2025 using purposive and snowball sampling. Forty tertiary hospitals with relatively strong pediatric cardiovascular services were invited, and 35 valid questionnaires were included (response rate: 88%). Descriptive analyses were used to summarize institutional characteristics, phases of cardiac rehabilitation, service volume, assessment items and target populations, safety management, payment and charges, as well as major barriers and support needs. Results: The 35 hospitals were distributed across 20 provincial-level administrative regions. Among them, 15/35 had implemented pediatric cardiac rehabilitation: phase Ⅰ in 15/15, phase Ⅱ in 11/15, and phase Ⅲ in 7/15. Of these 15 hospitals, 9/15 had dedicated cardiac rehabilitation clinics and 5/15 offered remote or home-based cardiac rehabilitation. Service volume was generally low, with a median monthly volume of 20 (10, 30) patient visits and 180 (100, 330) patient visits in the past 12 months. The main assessment tools were the 6-minute walk test (15/15) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (14/15). Twelve of the 15 hospitals had established pre-enrollment risk stratification and recorded adverse events during training; over the previous 12 months, 12/15 reported no moderate or severe exercise-related adverse events. Among all 35 surveyed hospitals, the major barriers were lack of systematic professional training (26/35, 74%), insufficient workforce (21/35, 60%), and inadequate equipment (21/35, 60%). Conclusion: In this sample of selected tertiary hospitals, pediatric cardiac rehabilitation has been initiated, but fewer than half of the hospitals have established such programs, and overall service volume remains low. Phase Ⅱ and phase Ⅲ programs, as well as remote and home-based cardiac rehabilitation, remain underdeveloped.
PMID:42736133 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn112148-20260305-00139
