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Updated: Jul 25, 2025
A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
Effect of a cardiac telerehabilitation program during COVID-19 associated social isolation
João Paulo Prado1, Giovane Galdino1
1Institute of Motricity Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Insights
Conventional cardiac rehabilitation (CCR) improved outcomes more than cardiac telerehabilitation (CTR) during COVID-19 social isolation. CTR, however, helped stabilize patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges for patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
- Maintaining rehabilitation programs is crucial for managing CVDs and improving patient quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of conventional cardiac rehabilitation (CCR) versus cardiac telerehabilitation (CTR) for patients with CVDs during COVID-19-related social isolation.
- To assess the impact of these rehabilitation strategies on clinical outcomes and quality of life.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study involving 58 patients with stable CVDs.
- Participants were divided into three groups: CCR (n=20), CTR (n=18), and a control group (n=20).
- Outcomes including body mass index, quality of life, and blood pressure were compared between groups and against baseline.
Main Results:
- CCR significantly reduced body mass index and improved quality of life (physical, vitality, emotional aspects) compared to baseline.
- CTR did not show significant improvements in these clinical outcomes compared to baseline.
- CTR was effective in preventing clinical deterioration and stabilizing blood pressure and quality of life.
Conclusions:
- Conventional cardiac rehabilitation demonstrated superior clinical improvement and quality of life benefits compared to cardiac telerehabilitation.
- Cardiac telerehabilitation served as a vital tool for maintaining patient stability, particularly blood pressure and quality of life, during the COVID-19 pandemic's social isolation period.
Abstract:
This study aimed to compare the impact of a cardiac telerehabilitation (CTR) protocol aimed at patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) during the period of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated with social isolation. This retrospective cohort study included 58 participants diagnosed with stable cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which were divided into three groups: conventional cardiac rehabilitation (CCR) group (n = 20), composed of patients undergoing conventional cardiac rehabilitation; cardiac telerehabilitation (CTR) group (n = 18), composed of patients undergoing cardiac telerehabilitation and control group (n = 20), composed of patients admitted for cardiac rehabilitation who had not started training programs. The results showed that body mass index was reduced (p = 0.019) and quality of life was improved (e.g., limitations due to physical aspects [p = 0.021), vitality [p = 0.045] and limitations due to emotional aspects [p = 0.024]) by CCR compared to baseline. These outcomes were not improved by CTR (p > 0.05). However, this strategy prevented clinical deterioration in the investigated patients. Although CCR achieved a superior effect on clinical improvement and quality of life, CTR was relevant to stabilize the blood pressure and quality of life of patients with cardiovascular diseases during the period of COVID-19-associated social isolation.
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