Edinburgh Napier University

  Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death and disability globally, and worryingly it is those with existing disease who are at greatest risk of further events, hospitalisations and death [1]. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes have been demonstrated to reduce morbidity and mortality, and to improve quality of life for those who participate [2]. CR programs are typically delivered in a hospital environment, require weekly or twice-weekly attendance and are time limited [2]. Despite widespread endeavours to engage people with CVD in CR, attendance is typically low with reported rates for initiation into CR below 50%, and high attrition for those who commence CR [3]. Therefore, attention has focussed on alternative models, which might increase access to effective secondary prevention and the way in which we might deliver them. Internet-based models are frequently promoted as solutions to inequalities in secondary prevention access.