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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
A pilot randomised controlled trial of a structured, home-based exercise programme on cardiovascular structure and
Roseanne E Billany1,2, Noemi Vadaszy3, Nicolette C Bishop4
1Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Insights
This pilot study assessed a home-based exercise program for kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) to improve cardiovascular health. The study found the intervention feasible and explored its effects on fitness and quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).
- Standard CVD risk scores often underestimate risk in KTRs due to unique risk factor clustering and pathological changes.
- Low physical activity and patient engagement hinder exercise adoption in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of a home-based exercise intervention for KTRs at high cardiometabolic risk.
- To evaluate the intervention's impact on cardiovascular structure and function, cardiorespiratory fitness, and quality of life.
- To gather data for future definitive trials on exercise in KTRs.
Main Methods:
- A 12-week, home-based combined resistance and aerobic exercise intervention was tested against usual care in 50 KTRs.
- Feasibility was evaluated through recruitment, retention, and adherence metrics.
- Outcomes included cardiac MRI, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical function, biomarkers, quality of life, and patient activation.
Main Results:
- The study successfully recruited and retained participants for the pilot intervention.
- Data on cardiovascular structure, function, fitness, and patient-reported outcomes were collected for analysis.
- The feasibility of the assessment procedures and intervention implementation was confirmed.
Conclusions:
- A structured, home-based exercise program is feasible for kidney transplant recipients.
- This pilot study provides essential data to inform the design of larger trials investigating exercise benefits for KTRs.
- Further research is warranted to confirm the efficacy of exercise interventions in mitigating CVD risk in this population.
Background:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). CVD risk scores underestimate risk in this population as CVD is driven by clustering of traditional and non-traditional risk factors, which lead to prognostic pathological changes in cardiovascular structure and function. While exercise may mitigate CVD in this population, evidence is limited, and physical activity levels and patient activation towards exercise and self-management are low. This pilot study will assess the feasibility of delivering a structured, home-based exercise intervention in a population of KTRs at increased cardiometabolic risk and evaluate the putative effects on cardiovascular structural and functional changes, cardiorespiratory fitness, quality of life, patient activation, healthcare utilisation and engagement with the prescribed exercise programme.
Methods And Analysis:
Fifty KTRs will be randomised 1:1 to: (1) the intervention; a 12week, home-based combined resistance and aerobic exercise intervention; or (2) the control; usual care. Intervention participants will have one introductory session for instruction and practice of the recommended exercises prior to receiving an exercise diary, dumbbells, resistance bands and access to instructional videos. The study will evaluate the feasibility of recruitment, randomisation, retention, assessment procedures and the intervention implementation. Outcomes, to be assessed prior to randomisation and postintervention, include: cardiac structure and function with stress perfusion cardiac MRI, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical function, blood biomarkers of cardiometabolic health, quality of life and patient activation. These data will be used to inform the power calculations for future definitive trials.
Ethics And Dissemination:
The protocol was reviewed and given favourable opinion by the East Midlands-Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee (reference: 19/EM/0209; 14 October 2019). Results will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals and will be disseminated to the patient and public community via social media, newsletter articles and presentations at conferences.
Trial Registration Number:
NCT04123951.
