BACKGROUND: Exercise rehabilitation after cardiac surgery has beneficial effects, especially on a long-term basis. Rehabilitative programs with telemedicine plus appropriate technology might satisfy the needs of performing rehabilitation at home. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare exercise capacity after home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) or in-hospital rehabilitation in patients at low to medium risk for early mortality (EuroSCORE 0-5) following cardiac surgery. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental study was conducted. METHODS: At hospital discharge, patients were given the option to decide whether to enroll in the HBCR program. Clinical examinations (electrocardiography, cardiac echo color Doppler, chest radiography, blood samples) of patients in the HBCR group were collected during 4 weeks of rehabilitation, and exercise capacity (assessed using the Six-Minute Walk Test [6MWT]) was assessed before and after rehabilitation. A group of patients admitted to the in-hospital rehabilitation program was used as a comparison group. Patients in the HBCR group were supervised at home by a medical doctor and telemonitored daily by a nurse and physical therapist by video conference. Periodic home visits by health staff also were performed. RESULTS: One hundred patients were recruited into the HBCR group. An equal number of patients was selected for the comparison group. At the end of the 4-week study, the 2 groups showed improvement from their respective baseline values only in the 6MWT. No difference was found in time × group interaction. LIMITATIONS: Because patients self-selected to enroll in the HBCR program and because they were enrolled from a single clinical center, the results of the study cannot be generalized. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who self-selected HBCR, the program was found to be effective and comparable to the standard in-hospital rehabilitative approach, indicating that rehabilitation following cardiac surgery can be implemented effectively at home when coadministered with an integrated telemedicine service.
BACKGROUND: Exercise rehabilitation after cardiac surgery has beneficial effects, especially on a long-term basis. Rehabilitative programs with telemedicine plus appropriate technology might satisfy the needs of performing rehabilitation at home. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare exercise capacity after home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) or in-hospital rehabilitation in patients at low to medium risk for early mortality (EuroSCORE 0-5) following cardiac surgery. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental study was conducted. METHODS: At hospital discharge, patients were given the option to decide whether to enroll in the HBCR program. Clinical examinations (electrocardiography, cardiac echo color Doppler, chest radiography, blood samples) of patients in the HBCR group were collected during 4 weeks of rehabilitation, and exercise capacity (assessed using the Six-Minute Walk Test [6MWT]) was assessed before and after rehabilitation. A group of patients admitted to the in-hospital rehabilitation program was used as a comparison group. Patients in the HBCR group were supervised at home by a medical doctor and telemonitored daily by a nurse and physical therapist by video conference. Periodic home visits by health staff also were performed. RESULTS: One hundred patients were recruited into the HBCR group. An equal number of patients was selected for the comparison group. At the end of the 4-week study, the 2 groups showed improvement from their respective baseline values only in the 6MWT. No difference was found in time × group interaction. LIMITATIONS: Because patients self-selected to enroll in the HBCR program and because they were enrolled from a single clinical center, the results of the study cannot be generalized. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who self-selected HBCR, the program was found to be effective and comparable to the standard in-hospital rehabilitative approach, indicating that rehabilitation following cardiac surgery can be implemented effectively at home when coadministered with an integrated telemedicine service.
Authors: Cecilie Røe; Erik Bautz-Holter; Nada Andelic; Helene Lundgaard Søberg; Boya Nugraha; Christoph Gutenbrunner; Andrea Boekel; Marit Kirkevold; Grace Engen; Juan Lu Journal: Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl Date: 2022-04-13
Authors: Nicoleta Stoicea; Tian You; Andrew Eiterman; Clifton Hartwell; Victor Davila; Stephen Marjoribanks; Cristina Florescu; Sergio Daniel Bergese; Barbara Rogers Journal: Front Cardiovasc Med Date: 2017-11-27
Authors: Charlotte Thorup; John Hansen; Mette Grønkjær; Jan Jesper Andreasen; Gitte Nielsen; Erik Elgaard Sørensen; Birthe Irene Dinesen Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2016-04-04 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Amanda L Hannan; Michael P Harders; Wayne Hing; Mike Climstein; Jeff S Coombes; James Furness Journal: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil Date: 2019-07-30