Wedoany.com Report-Dec.8, The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued final draft guidance recommending seven digital health technologies (DHTs) for NHS use in England and Wales to support cardiac rehabilitation. The recommendation is initially for three years, during which developers must collect real-world evidence on long-term effectiveness.

The seven approved programmes provide a combination of guided exercise, disease education, dietary guidance, medication reminders and psychological support. They are:

- Activate Your Heart (University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust)

- D REACH-HF (Health & Care Innovations)

- Digital Heart Manual (NHS Lothian)

- Gro Health HeartBuddy (DDM health)

- KiActiv (Ki Performance Lifestyle)

- myHeart (my mhealth)

- Pumping Marvellous Cardiac Rehab Platform (Pumping Marvellous Foundation)

Despite strong evidence that cardiac rehabilitation reduces further heart events and hospital readmissions, uptake of traditional programmes remains low. In 2023 only 41% of eligible acute coronary syndrome patients and 13% of heart failure patients in England participated, with particularly limited access for women, younger people, ethnic minorities and those in deprived areas.

Dr Anastasia Chalkidou, HealthTech programme director at NICE, said:

"These digital platforms offer real potential to transform how cardiac rehabilitation is offered to people to meet their individual circumstances. We know that traditional programmes aren't reaching everyone who could benefit. The early data is promising and suggests, with safeguards in place, more people should now be given the opportunity to use these new technologies."

Use of the DHTs must follow assessment by a trained healthcare professional and be supported by an agreed evidence-generation plan. Five other submitted technologies were not recommended for routine use and are limited to research settings pending further data.

After the three-year period, NICE will review the collected evidence to decide whether the seven technologies should become standard NHS offerings. The guidance supports broader NHS digital transformation goals while aiming to improve equity and reach in cardiovascular care.