Application value of cardiac remote monitoring in chronic heart failure patients during rehabilitation training

Abstract

Objective To explore the application value of cardiac remote monitoring in rehabilitation training with chronic heart failure patients. Methods A total of 100 chronic heart failure patients who came from Jinan luo-yuan, er-qi, and other eight communities from January 2011 to January 2012 were randomly divided into two groups, the experimental group (n=50, received usual exercise training) and the control group (n=50, received cardiac remote monitoring based on usual exercise training). Period of treatment was 32 weeks. The experimental group and the control group respectively applying cardiac remote monitoring and normal ECG examination to detect myocardial ischemia, and record the detection rate. The 6 minutes walking distance (6MWD), quality of life score, readmission and mortality rate were compared between the two groups after 32 weeks. Results During the follow-up period, the experimental group found 34 cases of asymptomatic myocardial ischemia, the detection rate was 68%, and the control group found 12 cases of asymptomatic myocardial ischemia, the detection rate was 26% (χ2=3.581, P=0.023). There were 15 patients with symptoms of chest tightness, suffocation and shortness of breath in experimental group, and 27 patients in control group (30% vs. 54%, χ2=4.303, P=0.031). After 32 weeks of treatment, compared with control group, the 6MWD was significantly increased [(441.75±39.02)m vs. (391.25±63.31)m, t=4.721, P=0.032], quality of life score was significantly decreased (43.26±9.61 vs. 55.83±6.42, t=8.132, P=0.043) and readmission rate was significantly decreased (18% vs. 32%, t=6.412, P=0.020) in experimental group. There was no significant difference in mortality rate between the two groups (0 vs. 4%, P=0.893). Conclusions The guidance of remote monitoring can increase the security of rehabilitation training for the patients with chronic heart failure, and improve the exercise endurance, reduce readmission rate, improve the quality of life significantly, it has a high value in clinical application. Key words: Chronic heart failure; Cardiac remote monitoring; Rehabilitation training; Application value