Long-term exercise effects after cardiac telerehabilitation in patients with coronary artery disease: 1-year follow-up results of the randomized study.

BACKGROUND

Home-based cardiac telerehabilitation (HBCT) is a feasible and effective alternative to traditional center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR). Currently, there are only limited studies focusing on a long-term effect of HBCT, which means it is essential to do more research in this study field.

AIM

This study aimed at investigating a 1-year effect of a randomized controlled study using Cardiac Rehabilitation through the Global Position System (CR-GPS) compared to outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Study focused on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with coronary heart disease (CAD).

DESIGN

A long-term follow-up of a randomized study.

SETTING

Patients were enrolled, and the intervention was performed in an outpatient or home-based model. The results were obtained and evaluated in a hospital.

POPULATION

Patients who participated in the CR-GPS study were diagnosed with CAD with low to moderate cardiovascular risk.

METHODS

Patients enrolled in the study were eligible participants who had previously completed a 12-week HBCT program using a wrist heart rate (HR) monitor or attended a traditional CBCR. Primary outcome was the change in CRF expressed in peak oxygen uptake (pVO2), and the secondary outcomes were self-reported HRQL, objectively measured anthropometric characteristics, and mortality and hospitalization rates.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients (76%) completed the long-term follow-up. The average peak of pVO2 was higher after 1-year follow-up in the telerehabilitation group (HBCT 25.5 mL/kg/min compared to the active control group CBCR 23.6 mL/kg/min P=0.047). No statistically significant difference between the two groups was found after long-term follow-up for the parameter HRQL. For both groups, there was a significant improvement in the range of perceptions of general health. There was no death case and no difference in hospitalization rate between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports the HBCT model. It has been demonstrated that it induces satisfactory long-term effects in pVO2, exercise performance, and perceived general health in CAD patients with low to moderate cardiovascular risk.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT

Cardiovascular telerehabilitation using wrist HR monitors is a feasible and effective rehabilitation method that can help patients eliminate barriers that prevent them from using CBCR programs. Especially in the current global situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, this topic is becoming increasingly important.