Cardiovascular care implies cardiovascular rehabilitation as a team procedure that includes an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach of health professionals. Cardiovascular rehabilitation includes a series of activities aimed at achieving the best possible physical, mental and social condition, where patients after the acute phase of the disease should re-occupy a place in the community and continue to live an active life (1). Numerous scientific articles suggest that measures and procedures during cardiac rehabilitation led to a significant reduction in risk factors and mortality in cardiac patients (2). Cardiac rehabilitation programs began to be developed and implemented in the middle of the last century. Today’s modern programs include all available educational and motivational approaches to reduce cardiovascular risk factors, promote healthy behavior, and lead an active lifestyle.

This paper will present the development of rehabilitation of cardiac patients in Istria. The very beginning as well as the special development and progress through networking are shown. Special progress has been made since 2012 through the LOVE YOUR HEART Adriatic Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Network project, which was implemented in three countries: Albania, Croatia and Italy. Funds were provided from EU, and the project objectives were related to creating the preconditions for effective prevention through exchange of experiences with partners, preparation of educational materials and establishment of a center for cardiovascular disease prevention in terms of improving the process of early detection of risk factors. Today, our cardiac patients have the opportunity to start rehabilitation in a very short period of time after they have been diagnosed. In addition to rehabilitation, patients are also offered help with lifestyle changes. Family physicians, psychologists, nurses, physiotherapists, and nutritionists work with patients.