Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2025
A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
The Effect of Rehabilitation Therapy in Children with Intervened Congenital Heart Disease: A Study Protocol of
Mónica Menéndez Pardiñas1,2, Ángeles Sara Fuertes Moure3, José Manuel Sanz Mengíbar4
1Unidad de Atención Temprana y Rehabilitación Infantil, del Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), 15006 A Coruña, Spain.
Insights
Hospital-based cardio-respiratory rehabilitation significantly improves exercise capacity and quality of life in children with congenital heart defects (CHDs). This program enhances physical function and well-being compared to home-based activities.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiorespiratory Rehabilitation
- Congenital Heart Defects
Background:
- Children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) exhibit reduced exercise capacity due to hemodynamic issues and physical deconditioning.
- Impaired lung function, including restrictive patterns, leads to decreased oxygen uptake (VO2) and exercise performance, impacting prognosis.
- Reduced maximal oxygen consumption and work rate are independent predictors of mortality and hospitalization in pediatric CHD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the benefits of a hospital-based cardio-respiratory rehabilitation program versus a home-based program in intervened CHD patients.
- To evaluate improvements in respiratory function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in pediatric patients with CHDs.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving two groups of children with CHDs (n=26 each).
- One group received hospital-based, face-to-face cardio-respiratory rehabilitation.
- The other group participated in a home-based Cardio-respiratory Physical Activity Program (TELEA), measuring respiratory function (FVC, FEV1, PEF), exercise capacity (peak VO2), and quality of life.
Main Results:
- The study measured key respiratory parameters including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF).
- Exercise capacity was assessed via peak oxygen consumption (VO2).
- Quality of life for both children and their families was a primary outcome measure.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are vital for improving quality of life, exercise tolerance, and social integration in children with CHDs.
- These structured programs are crucial for enhancing physical and emotional well-being, optimizing life expectancy, and promoting patient integration.
Abstract:
Background/Objectives: Children who suffer from congenital heart defects (CHDs) have a decreased ability to perform physical exercise and consequently have a decrease in their functional capacity. The main causes of this decrease in functional capacity have been related on the one hand to residual hemodynamic defects and, at the same time, to a situation of physical deconditioning due to inactivity, as well as problems in lung function, especially the presence of restrictive patterns that influence the amount of O2 insufflated (decreased maximum VO2), consequently generating a deficient maximum O2 consumption and maximum work rate. This represents an important prognostic value, since it constitutes an independent predictor of death and hospitalization. This study aims to determine the benefits obtained regarding respiratory function, exercise capacity, and quality of life after implementing a hospital-based cardio-respiratory rehabilitation program compared to a home-based Cardio-respiratory Physical Activity Program in patients with intervened CHDs. Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of two different rehabilitation programs on respiratory function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in patients with CHDs conducted at the Child Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease Unit of the University Hospital Complex of A Coruña (CHUAC). There will be two groups: Cardio-respiratory rehabilitation group program conducted in a face-to-face format at the hospital (n = 26) and a study group that follows a home-based Cardio-respiratory Physical Activity Program (TELEA) (n = 26). The measurement variables will be respiratory function, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), maximum expiratory flow (PEF), the Tiffeneau index (FEV1 /FVC), forced expiratory flow (FEF25%, FEF50%, FEF75%, FEF25-75%), exercise capacity (peak VO2), and the quality of life of these children and their families. Conclusions: The implementation of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs in children with CHDs is essential to improve their quality of life, exercise tolerance, and socialization. These programs optimize life expectancy and promote integration, being crucial for their physical and emotional well-being.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:19Restorative Care
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:30Pulse rhythm
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac...