Evidence-based position paper on Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) professional practice for people with cardiovascular conditions. The European PRM position (UEMS PRM Section).
Alvydas Juocevicius, Aydan Oral, Aet Lukmann, Peter Takáč, Piotr Tederko, Ilze Hāznere, Catarina Aguiar-Branco, Milica Lazovic, Stefano Negrini, Enrique Varela Donoso, Nicolas Christodoulou
Author Information
Alvydas Juocevicius: Department of Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius Santariskiu Klinikos University Hospital, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Aydan Oral: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey - aydanoral@yahoo.com.
Aet Lukmann: Department of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Peter Takáč: L. Pasteur University Hospital, Kosice Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
Piotr Tederko: Department of Rehabilitation, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Ilze Hāznere: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia.
Catarina Aguiar-Branco: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hospital of Entre o Douro e Vouga E.P.E, Porto, Portugal.
Milica Lazovic: Institute for Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Stefano Negrini: Department Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Enrique Varela Donoso: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Complutense University School of Medicine, Madrid, Spain.
Nicolas Christodoulou: Medical School, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Cardiovascular conditions are significant causes of mortality and morbidity leading to substantial disability. The aim of the paper is to improve Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) physicians' professional practice for people with cardiovascular conditions in order to promote their functioning and to reduce activity limitations and/or participation restrictions. A systematic review of the literature and a Consensus procedure by means of a Delphi process have been performed involving the delegates of all European countries represented in the UEMS PRM Section. The systematic literature review is reported together with thirty recommendations resulting from the Delphi procedure. The professional role of PRM physicians having expertise in the rehabilitation of cardiovascular conditions is to lead cardiac rehabilitation programs in multiprofessional teams, working in collaboration with other disciplines in a variety of settings to improve functioning of people with cardiovascular conditions. This evidence-based position paper represents the official position of the European Union through the UEMS PRM Section and designates the professional role of PRM physicians in persons with cardiovascular conditions.
