Effects of home-based cardiac telerehabilitation programs in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for patients with coronary heart disease: a systematic review and evidence mapping study

INTRODUCTION

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) plays a critical role in coronary heart disease (CHD) management. There is a heritage in the effect of exercise-based CR with different exercise programs or intervention settings. This study developed an evidence matrix that systematically assesses, organizes, and presents the available evidence regarding exercise-based CR in CHD management.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across six databases. Two reviewers screened the identified literature, extracted relevant data, and assessed the quality of the studies. An evidence-mapping framework was established to present the findings in a structured manner. Bubble charts were used to represent the included systematic reviews (SRs). The charts incorporated information, exercise prescriptions, outcome indicators, associated P values, research quality, and the number of original studies. A descriptive analysis summarized the types of CR, intervention settings, influential factors, and adverse events.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Sixty-two SRs were included in this analysis, focusing on six exercise types in addition to assessing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), cost and rehabilitation outcomes. The most commonly studied exercise types were unspecified (28 studies, 45.2%) and aerobic (11 studies, 17.7%) exercises. All-cause mortality was the most frequently reported MACE outcome (22 studies). Rehabilitation outcomes primarily centered around changes in cardiac function (135 outcomes from 39 SRs). Only 8 (12.9%) studies were rated as "high quality." No significant adverse events were observed in the intervention group. Despite some variations among the included studies, most SRs demonstrated the benefits of exercise in improving one or more MACE or rehabilitation outcomes among CHD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of high-quality evidence remains relatively low. Limited evidence is available regarding the effectiveness of specific exercise types and specific populations, necessitating further evaluation.

Telehealth-Enabled In-Home Elbow Rehabilitation for Brachial Plexus Injuries Using Deep-Reinforcement-Learning-Assisted Telepresence Robots

Due to damage to the network of nerves that regulate the muscles and feeling in the shoulder, arm, and forearm, brachial plexus injuries (BPIs) are known to significantly reduce the function and quality of life of affected persons. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a considerable share of global disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) is attributable to upper limb injuries, including BPIs. Telehealth can improve access concerns for patients with BPIs, particularly in lower-middle-income nations. This study used deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-assisted telepresence robots, specifically the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithm, to provide in-home elbow rehabilitation with elbow flexion exercises for BPI patients. The telepresence robots were used for a six-month deployment period, and DDPG drove the DRL architecture to maximize patient-centric exercises with its robotic arm. Compared to conventional rehabilitation techniques, patients demonstrated an average increase of 4.7% in force exertion and a 5.2% improvement in range of motion (ROM) with the assistance of the telepresence robot arm. According to the findings of this study, telepresence robots are a valuable and practical method for BPI patients' at-home rehabilitation. This technology paves the way for further research and development in telerehabilitation and can be crucial in addressing broader physical rehabilitation challenges.

The impact of the time factors on the exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation outcomes of the patients with acute myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been demonstrated to improve outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the optimal CR initiation time and duration remain to be determined. This study aimed to explore the impact of the time factors on the CR outcomes in AMI patients who received PCI by the method of meta-regression analysis.

METHODS

We searched five databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Google scholar) up to October 31, 2023. Meta-regression analysis was utilized to explore the impact of the time factors on the effect sizes. Subgroups with more than 3 studies were used for meta-regression analysis.

RESULTS

Our analysis included 16 studies and a total of 1810 patients. The meta-regression analysis revealed that the initiation time and duration of CR had no significant impact on the occurrence of arrhythmia, coronary artery restenosis and angina pectoris. The initiation time and duration of CR also had no significant impact on the changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, starting time: estimate = 0.160, p = 0.130; intervention time: estimate = 0.017, p = 0.149), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV, starting time: estimate = - 0.191, p = 0.732; intervention time: estimate = - 0.033, p = 0.160), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV, starting time: estimate = - 0.301, p = 0.464; intervention time: estimate = 0.015, p = 0.368) and 6-minute walk test (6MWT, starting time: estimate = - 0.108, p = 0.467; intervention time: estimate = 0.019, p = 0.116).

CONCLUSION

Implementation of CR following PCI in patients with AMI is beneficial. However, in AMI patients, there is no significant difference in the improvement of CR outcomes based on different CR starting times within 1 month after PCI or different durations of the CR programs. It indicates that it is feasible for patients with AMI to commence CR within 1 month after PCI and continue long-term CR, but the time factors which impact CR are intricate and further clinical research is still needed to determine the optimal initiation time and duration of CR.

Efficacy and Adherence Rates of a Novel Community-Informed Virtual World-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: Protocol for the Destination Cardiac Rehab Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Innovative restructuring of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) delivery remains critical to reduce barriers and improve access to diverse populations. Destination Cardiac Rehab is a novel virtual world technology-based CR program delivered through the virtual world platform, Second Life, which previously demonstrated high acceptability as an extension of traditional center-based CR. This study aims to evaluate efficacy and adherence of the virtual world-based CR program compared with center-based CR within a community-informed, implementation science framework.

METHODS

Using a noninferiority, hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation, randomized controlled trial, 150 patients with an eligible cardiovascular event will be recruited from 6 geographically diverse CR centers across the United States. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to either the 12-week Destination Cardiac Rehab or the center-based CR control groups. The primary efficacy outcome is a composite cardiovascular health score based on the American Heart Association Life's Essential 8 at 3 and 6 months. Adherence outcomes include CR session attendance and participation in exercise sessions. A diverse patient/caregiver/stakeholder advisory board was assembled to guide recruitment, implementation, and dissemination plans and to contextualize study findings. The institutional review board-approved randomized controlled trial will enroll and randomize patients to the intervention (or control group) in 3 consecutive waves/year over 3 years. The results will be published at data collection and analyses completion.

CONCLUSIONS

The Destination Cardiac Rehab randomized controlled trial tests an innovative and potentially scalable model to enhance CR participation and advance health equity. Our findings will inform the use of effective virtual CR programs to expand equitable access to diverse patient populations.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT05897710.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of an integrated telerehabilitation platform for home-based cardiac REHABilitation in patients with heart failure (E-REHAB): protocol for a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is strongly recommended as a medical treatment to improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients with heart failure (HF); however, participation rates in CR are low compared with other evidence-based treatments. One reason for this is the geographical distance between patients' homes and hospitals. To address this issue, we developed an integrated telerehabilitation platform, RH-01, for home-based CR. We hypothesised that using the RH-01 platform for home-based CR would demonstrate non-inferiority compared with traditional centre-based CR.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The E-REHAB trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RH-01 for home-based CR compared with traditional centre-based CR for patients with HF. This clinical trial will be conducted under a prospective, randomised, controlled and non-inferiority design with a primary focus on HF patients. Further, to assess the generalisability of the results in HF to other cardiovascular disease (CVD), the study will also include patients with other CVDs. The trial will enrol 108 patients with HF and 20 patients with other CVD. Eligible HF patients will be randomly assigned to either traditional centre-based CR or home-based CR in a 1:1 fashion. Patients with other CVDs will not be randomised, as safety assessment will be the primary focus. The intervention group will receive a 12-week programme conducted two or three times per week consisting of a remotely supervised home-based CR programme using RH-01, while the control group will receive a traditional centre-based CR programme. The primary endpoint of this trial is change in 6 min walk distance.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The conduct of the study has been approved by an institutional review board at each participating site, and all patients will provide written informed consent before entry. The report of the study will be disseminated via scientific fora, including peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

jRCT:2052200064.