This topic has been identified as a priority by the joint NICE-NHS England Prioritisation Sub-Group for Digital Health Technologies. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), also known as heart and circulatory disease, is a long-term condition that affects the heart and blood vessels supplying different organs in the body. CVD is a leading cause of death and disability in the UK affecting about 6.1 million people currently.
Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) refers to programmes designed specifically for people who have a heart problem. They include exercise, education and psychological support. They are designed to help people living with CVD develop and maintain lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of further heart problems and are important for their recovery and wellbeing.
CR has been shown to reduce the number of hospital admissions, lower mortality, and improve quality of life of people living with CVD. However, availability of CR services is limited by staff shortages, and access to and uptake of CR services is limited by time, mobility and location restrictions. Completion of CR programmes is reported to be between 70% and 80%. Lower completion rates of CR programmes are found in women, people from more deprived areas, and people under 65.
Digital CR platforms could improve access to and uptake of CR services. These digital platforms may be web-based or app-based platforms. They could provide options which are flexible and convenient for patients to access CR from any location at any time. There is a potential for digital CR platforms to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and offer people an opportunity to be more involved in the management of their health.
The NICE early value assessment will evaluate innovative digital platforms for cardiac rehabilitation. It will review the evidence that is available and assess the potential clinical and cost-effectiveness of the digital platforms, as well as identifying evidence gaps to help direct data collection.
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Status
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In progress
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Technology type
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Device
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Decision
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Selected
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Reason for decision
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Anticipate the topic will be of importance to patients, carers, professionals, commissioners and the health of the public to ensure clinical benefit is realised, inequalities in use addressed, and help them make the best use of NHS resources
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Further information
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This topic has been identified by the NICE-NHS England Prioritisation Subgroup as a clinical area of high priority to address the barriers of access for people requiring cardiac rehabilitation services. Digitally enabled cardiac rehabilitation is aligned to the NHS long-term plan and other national strategic priority areas such as the major conditions strategy. This has also been informed by extensive engagement with clinical experts at a national and local level, commissioners and policy professionals. NHS Long Term Plan aims to improve the proportion of patients accessing cardiac rehabilitation from the current level of 50% to 85% by 2028, which will be amongst the best in Europe.
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| Process |
MTEP
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Provisional Schedule
| Scope published |
22 April 2025 |
| Committee meeting: 1 |
17 July 2025 |
| Draft guidance: 1 |
19 August 2025 - 03 September 2025 |
| Committee meeting: 2 |
18 September 2025 |
| Expected publication |
18 November 2025 |
Project Team
Email enquiries
| External Assessment Group |
Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter |
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Date
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Update
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07 February 2025
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In progress |
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07 February 2024
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Awaiting development. Status change linked to Topic Selection Decision being set to Selected |
For further information on our processes and methods, please see our CHTE processes and methods manual