Significance and Outcomes of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review

A trial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia, affecting around 2% of the western world and showing a rising trend with age. Not only does it hamper the quality of life (QoL) of patients, but it is also a huge global healthcare burden. The aim of this systematic review is to provide conclusive evidence that cardiac rehabilitation (CR) implementation in patients with symptomatic AF or who have been treated for AF can aid in improving their overall cardio-metabolic profile and help them enhance their QoL. For this purpose, databases such as Pubmed, Pubmed Central (PMC), and the Cochrane Library were screened for relevant articles published between January 1, 2013 and February 22, 2023. After application of appropriate filters and quality assessment of the articles, a total of 10 articles were included in this review, which consisted of four randomised control trials (RCTs), three cohort studies, one narrative review, one systematic review, and one systematic review and meta-analysis. From this review, it was concluded that cardiac rehabilitation, which is an intensive, demanding intervention comprising parts of fitness training, education, psychosocial treatment, and a behaviour designed to improve the physical and emotional elements of persons with heart disease, can be successfully implemented in AF sufferers by improving their exercise capacity, QoL, and helping them cope better with the condition