The Efficacy of Telemedicine Rehabilitation Programs In Regard Of Risk Factors Control In Patients With Paroxysmal...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology and Cardiovascular Diseases
• Digital Health and Telemedicine
• Interventional Cardiology

Background:

• Uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors (RFs) predict atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence and complications after catheter ablation (CA).
• Telemedical cardiac rehabilitation (CR) offers a potential strategy to enhance RF control and CR efficacy.
• This study investigates the impact of remote-supported CR on RFs in post-CA patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the changes in traditional risk factors (RFs) during cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs with remote support.
• To assess the efficacy of telemedical CR in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) following catheter ablation (CA).
• To compare remote-supported CR interventions (phone and e-mail) against standard recommendations.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled clinical study involving 135 patients (aged 35-79 years) undergoing CA for AF.
• Three parallel groups: Group 1 (phone-supported CR), Group 2 (e-mail-supported CR), and Group 3 (standard recommendations).
• Interventions included personal consulting and 3 months of remote support; RFs (body weight, BP, lipids, smoking, physical activity) were assessed at baseline and 12 months post-CA using IPAQ.

Main Results:

• Both remote CR groups showed significant reductions in body weight index (3.6% and 2.3%), systolic blood pressure (7.1% and 1.5%), and total cholesterol (9.4% and 6.3%) at 12 months compared to the control group.
• Physical activity, measured by metabolic equivalents (METs) for walking, increased substantially in the intervention groups (55.0% and 75.0%) versus minimal change in the control group (1.4%).
• No significant differences were observed between groups regarding AF recurrence, repeat CA, or hospitalizations.

Conclusions:

• Cardiac rehabilitation programs incorporating remote support effectively improve the control of blood pressure, body weight, and blood cholesterol in patients with AF after catheter ablation.
• Telemedical CR demonstrates significant benefits in managing cardiovascular risk factors, contributing to better patient outcomes.
• One-year follow-up results indicate sustained improvements in risk factor management through remote-supported CR interventions.