Home-based cardiac rehab improves functional capacity, linked to returning to work
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A home-based cardiac rehabilitation program improved functional capacity and was associated with regaining occupation and reduced dependence on disability benefits, researchers reported.
The researchers evaluated a complex hybrid cardiac telerehabilitation program implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and presented their findings at the American College of Cardiology Cardiovascular Summit.
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“We have been conducting complex cardiac telerehabilitation programs, which help patients with CV diseases adjust to disease, since 2016,” Agnieszka Zebrowska, MD, from the cardiology division at Medikar in Warsaw, Poland, told Healio. “We saw the difference we made in our patients’ lives. Thanks to cardiac consults, physical therapy, education and psychological consults, patients saw that they could do more in safe limits. We wanted to check how efficient this program is in getting [patients] back to work. Using telerehabilitation enabled us to continue safe and effective trainings in the COVID pandemic time.”
The cohort included 58 ambulatory patients with CVD referred for cardiac rehab in 2020 (mean age, 54 years; 89% men; 86% after MI; mean left ventricular ejection fraction, 52%; mean BMI, 29.7 kg/m2; 39.6% current tobacco smokers).
Care providers for the program included cardiologists, nurses, physiotherapists and psychiatrists. The protocol included cardiac consultations; an ECG; a transthoracic echocardiogram; exercise tests; 10 days of ambulatory training, education and psychotherapy; and home-based cardiac-telemonitored Nordic walking training.
Participants increased their maximal workload and tolerated exercise time, decreased their resting heart rate and decreased their systolic and diastolic BP, according to the researchers.
There was no change in weight among the cohort.
At follow-up in September 2022, 64% of patients had returned to work, compared with 12% at the start of the program (P < .0001).
“In our opinion, more patients should be able to have access to telerehabilitation, as it is safe, effective and a cheaper tool,” Zebrowska told Healio. “Especially more women should be referred for such programs, as they are underrepresented. Thanks to new technology more patients can benefit from complex care and stay in the program even after going back to work. It is very important for patients who before the disease were providing for their families. Thanks to education, optimal medical training, healthy lifestyle changes and maintaining exercise, they feel in control.”
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Zebrowska A, et al. Posters. Presented at: American College of Cardiology Cardiovascular Summit; Feb. 16-18, 2023; Washington.
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