Phase 3 rehabilitation: an underused tool for consolidation of lifestyle changes, and prevention of relapses in cases of ischemic heart disease.

The third phase of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program (CRP) is a lifelong, maintenance phase beginning 3 to 6 months after the cardiac event. Individualized surveillance and monitoring schedules are established. The exercise prescription guidelines are practically identical to those of the other phases of the CRP with personalized monitoring. Currently, with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, telerehabilitation and telemonitoring are of great value in this phase. The benefits of phase 3 have been demonstrated with prolonged survival by 1.82 years, at a cost of $ 1773 per year of life saved.