Background Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity worldwide. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a comprehensive
secondary prevention approach, with established benefits in reducing morbidity in high-income
countries (HICs). The objectives of this review were to summarise what is known about the benefits of CR,
including consideration of cost-effectiveness, in addition to rates of CR participation and adherence in high-,
as well as low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).