April 2nd is 'Cardiac Rehabilitation Day'
Cardiac rehabilitation is a crucial yet underutilized treatment for heart disease in Japan, aiming to prevent exacerbations and improve patient QOL. Remote cardiac rehabilitation solutions are emerging to address accessibility and recurrence challenges. Remo-Hab Inc. has developed "Remo-Hab CR U," a remotely supported cardiac rehabilitation medical device program, obtaining its first pharmaceutical approval in Japan for such a system.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 2, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 2, 2026 at 14:02
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 17, 2026 at 07:02 (352h 59m after Collected)
About Cardiac Rehabilitation (Cardiac Rehab)
Heart disease, including heart failure, ranks second among causes of death in Japan. Cardiac rehabilitation is an important treatment alongside drug therapy for heart disease. Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive program aimed at helping patients with heart disease smoothly return to family and social life, with the goal of preventing exacerbations. It includes exercise therapy, lifestyle guidance, and counseling.
In cardiac rehabilitation, healthcare professionals prescribe exercise therapy at a load/frequency tailored to each patient based on data such as their blood pressure and electrocardiogram. It is said that stable effects can be obtained by performing it three or more times a week. It is a treatment positioned as Class I recommendation in guidelines in Japan, the US, and Europe, and is known to improve patient prognosis and Quality of Life (QOL).
However, the actual implementation rate is low. Cardiac rehabilitation immediately after discharge (late recovery phase) is carried out by visiting medical institutions, but there is a report*¹ that only 7.1% of patients hospitalized for heart failure receive it. Heart failure repeatedly improves and worsens, and about 1 to 2 out of 5 people are readmitted within a year*². As hospitalizations and discharges accumulate, stamina and mobility tend to gradually decrease, so it is important to work on preventing recurrence through cardiac rehabilitation.
*¹ Koshiro Kanaoka et al. Multifactorial effects of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in patients with heart failure. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2023, 30(6), p.442-450.
*² 2025 Revised Edition Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure. Japanese Circulation Society / Japanese Heart Failure Society
For Yourself or Loved Ones... When You Want to Know About Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation is covered by insurance for acute myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, post-cardiac surgery, chronic heart failure, great vessel diseases, peripheral arterial disease, post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement, and pulmonary hypertension (primarily for 150 days from the onset date or surgery date)*³. Since insurance coverage is determined by the patient's condition and status, please consult your attending physician or medical staff.
*³ As of April 1, 2026.
About Remo-Hab Inc.
Remo-Hab Inc. operates with the mission "Advancing Global Healthcare." Founded by Tatsunori Taniguchi (a graduate of Osaka University School of Medicine), who participated in the Japan Biodesign Program, a medical device development human resource training program originating from Stanford University in the US. The company aims to make novel medical treatments commonplace.
In June 2025, the company obtained manufacturing and sales approval (pharmaceutical approval) for "Remo-Hab CR U," a medical device program that supports the implementation of remote cardiac rehabilitation. This is the first pharmaceutical approval in Japan for a medical device program supporting rehabilitation implementation*⁴. Since obtaining pharmaceutical approval, the company has begun providing information, including exhibiting the device for medical professionals at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society (July 2025), the 9th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Cardiovascular Physical Therapy (December 2025), and the 90th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society (March 2026). The company will continue to prepare for insurance coverage and product launch of remote cardiac rehabilitation.
*⁴ Company research. Survey month: March 2026. Survey scope: Medical device programs approved by pharmaceutical affairs in Japan that support the implementation of remote cardiac rehabilitation.
2025 conference exhibition (Medical Tribune website):
https://medical-tribune.co.jp/news/articles/?blogid=7&entryid=568693
[Remo-Hab Inc. Company Profile]
Head Office Location: GATE TERRACE SHIN OSAKA 3F, 4-3-24 Nishinakajima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan
Representative Director: Tatsunori Taniguchi
Business Content: Development, manufacturing, and sales of remote cardiac rehabilitation systems.