RECOVER
REhabilitation COhort at the Medicine Campus DaVos to invEstigate Recovery
RECOVER is a prospective cohort study designed to advance cardiac rehabilitation after cardiac events.
The study collects comprehensive clinical, biological, and functional data from a large number of patients to better understand recovery processes and treatment response. Its aim is to support more precise and personalized cardiac rehabilitation strategies that improve long-term outcomes.
Key Facts
- STUDY TYPE: Prospective Cohort Study
- FIELD: Cardiology and Exercise Based Cardiac Rehabilitation
- STATUS: Ongoing
- START: August 2025
- PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation at the Hochgebirgsklinik Davos
Background and Rationale
Why this study matters
Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a key component of secondary prevention after cardiac events. It has proven benefits for mortality, morbidity, and functional capacity. Despite advances in interventional and pharmacological therapies, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. While CR is broadly recommended, patient responses to rehabilitation vary substantially. Current programs are still largely standardized rather than tailored to individual risk profiles and recovery trajectories.
Knowledge Gaps in Predicting Recovery After Cardiac Events
A major knowledge gap is the limited understanding of biological, clinical, and behavioral factors that drive recovery after cardiac events. Existing evidence does not sufficiently explain why some patients show excellent long-term outcomes while others experience recurrent events or limited functional improvement despite similar rehabilitation exposure. In particular, data integrating clinical outcomes with biomarkers, imaging, digital measures, and environmental influences in large, well-characterized CR cohorts are scarce.
Clinical Rationale and Objectives
The RECOVER study addresses these gaps through comprehensive phenotyping and long-term follow-up of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation at the Hochgebirgsklinik Davos. By systematically linking rehabilitation strategies with clinical, biological, and functional outcomes, RECOVER aims to identify predictors of recovery and treatment response. These insights are expected to directly inform clinical practice, support more personalized rehabilitation approaches, and ultimately improve long-term outcomes while reducing the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events.