How this fits in

Cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction reduces the risk of re-infarction, cardiac mortality, and all-cause mortality. However, the value of cardiac rehabilitation after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or ‘minor’ stroke is untested despite these conditions sharing similar pathology with coronary heart disease. Patients who have experienced a TIA are at high risk of future cardiovascular events but early intervention after a TIA or ‘minor’ stroke may prevent further stroke and disability. As awareness of the importance of lifestyle factors rises, the best approach to implementing secondary prevention remains unknown. The authors therefore developed a novel home-based intervention, The Healthy Brain Rehabilitation, for use in primary care, using core components of cardiac rehabilitation to promote secondary prevention for TIA and patients who have had a ‘minor’ stroke. The results of this pilot study indicate that this home-based intervention has potential for clinically important benefits and improved secondary prevention after TIA or ‘minor’ stroke.