Test fitness at primary school

Source: BBC Health News

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Date of publication: June 2015

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell:  Children should be tested for fitness, as well as maths and English, to reduce inactivity, say health campaigners. Campaign group ukactive says the UK faces a “ticking time bomb” of health problems due to lack of exercise. Its report says only half of seven-year-olds in England are active for an hour a day, and says more activity should take place in the classroom. “We should focus on the health of our hearts, not just the size of our waists,” say the authors.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: BBC Health News

How fat can help fight heart disease

Source: British Heart Foundation

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Date of publication: June 2015

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: BHF Research Fellow Professor Charalambos Antoniades at the University of Oxford presented his studies into how fat can help fight heart disease at this years British Cardiovascular Society Conference. The fat surrounding our blood vessels can help fight heart disease and reduce the risk of a heart attack, according to the research presented.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: British Heart Foundation

Smartphone-based home care model improved use of cardiac rehabilitation

Source: Heart, 2014, 100 (22) p. 1770-1779

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Date of publication: November 2014

Publication type: Research

In a nutshell: This unblinded randomised controlled trial aimed to investigate the effect of smartphone-based home service delivery of cardiac rehabilitation compared with traditional centre-based programmes for post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients. The results of this smartphone-based home care cardiac rehabilitation programme showed improved post-MI cardiac rehabiliation uptake, adherence and completion.

Length of publication: 10 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Core competences for the physical activity and exercise component for cardiovascular disease prevention and rehabilitation services

Source: British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR)

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Date of publication: 2012

Publication type: Best practice

In a nutshell: The Exercise Professionals Group of the BACPR has produced this 2nd edition. It is intended to ‘enable service providers and managers to ensure appropriate governance and safe and effective service delivery.’  Competency 12 deals with Service planning and management; Competency 13 covers Service evaluation.

Length of publication: 44 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: NHS Improvement – Heart ebulletin 20th Dec 2012

Heart UK cardiac rehabilitation report

Source: Heart UK

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Date of publication: January 2012

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This report highlights the variation in cardiac rehabilitation provision and uptake across the country, and makes recommendations to improve the quality of rehabilitation services for all patients.

Length of publication: 50 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: King’s Fund Health Management and Policy alert 17 January 2012

Duration of treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and impact on risk of death and recurrent myocardial infarction in patients with prior myocardial infarction

Source: Circulation, 24 May 2011, vol 123 (20), pp 2226-2235

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Date of publication: May 2011

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: This large nationwide cohort study in Denmark showed significantly increased risk of further MI and death associated with use of NSAIDs in patients with prior MI, even over short-term periods of treatment. Diclofenac was associated with the highest risk.

Length of publication: 11 pages

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article. Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Primary angioplasty and health information provision

Source: NHS Improvement – Heart

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Date of publication: January 2011

Publication type: Best practice

In a nutshell: Patients are now spending less time in hospital following a heart attack and primary angioplasty. This document emphasises the importance of ensuring that patients are properly informed and educated afterwards about their condition and the steps necessary in order that they make a good recovery and maintain their health in the future.

Length of publication: 16 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Physical activity on referral in Blackpool

Source: NHS Blackpool

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Date of publication: September 2010

Publication type: Press release 

In a nutshell: The ‘Y Active’ physical activity on referral scheme has been launched in Blackpool, funded by NHS Blackpool and run by the YMCA. The scheme intends to offer a wide range of activities and locations, to engage people, especially inactive patients with existing healthcare conditions. The press release includes a link to a specimen referral form.

Length of publication: 1 web page

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

2009 ACPICR Standards for physical activity and exercise in the cardiac population

Source: Cardiac Rehab UK, issue 17, May 2010, p5

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Date of publication: 16 April 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Cardiac Rehabilitation has recently published updated guidelines, which have been expanded to include all four phases of the rehabilitation pathway. The evidence-based standards cover everything from Service level agreement on recuitment and referral, to outcome measures, health and safety, and documentation.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: British Association for Cardiac Rehabilitation;   British Heart Foundation; Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac Tai-Chi

Source: Cardiac Rehab UK, issue 17, May 2010, p5

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Date of publication: 16 April 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Maidstone Hospital commenced its first ever Cardiac Rehabilitation Tai Chi programme in September 2009. It offers an alternative for patients who are unable to participate in mainstream rehabilitation exercise classes due to physical incapacity.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: British Association for Cardiac Rehabilitation and British Heart Foundation

Working with people to cut their risk

Source:  Irish Times, 9 June 2009

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Date of publication: June 2009

Publication type:  News item

In a nutshell:  Croi MyAction, in the West of Ireland, is an innovative community-based 16-week programme. It will be offered free-of-charge to coronary patients, and people identified as having a greater than 5% risk of dying from heart disease in the next 10 years, plus their partners and families. 450 people in the first year, will be offered one-to-one appointments, group exercises and health promotion workshops, designed to bring about sustainable lifestyle changes. Participants’ progress will be monitored by family doctors as part of a multi-disciplinary approach.

Length of publication:  1 web page

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement:  National Heart Forum Weekly e-News Briefing 10.6.09

The coronary heart disease national service framework: building on excellence, maintaining progress – progress report for 2008

Source:  Department of Health, 20th March 2009

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Date of  Publication:  March, 2009

Publication Type:  Report

In a nutshell:  Highlights the progress made in 2008 and looks at the future, which should see the development of cardiac services embedded into a wider vascular programme. Cardiac rehabilitation will be one of the areas of focus for the ongoing work programme.

Length of Publication:  23 pages

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Acknowledgements:  National Library for Public Health newsletter April 2009.