Australian cardiac rehabilitation programs are delivered promptly, but many are too short in duration and access is inequitable, researchers say.

The study — covering a snapshot of programs in NSW, the ACT and Tasmania — provides initial national cardiac rehabilitation performance benchmarks for quality improvement, the investigators say.

In the absence of any Australian standards for performance, the 39 programs (with a total of more than 2400 participants, mean age 66) were classified according to the UK National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation’s benchmarks.

Just 18% of the programs were ‘high-performing’, getting a tick for four or five of the UK requirements, said the authors, led by Mr Robert Zecchin of Western Sydney Local Health District.