Cardiac rehabilitation using a virtual trainer in patients with heart failure

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): European Union’s Horizon 2020. Background/Introduction According to WHO cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality. Heart attacks and strokes account for more than four out of every five CVD fatalities. Early identification of patients at risk to developing cardiovascular diseases and prompt initiation of appropiate treatment can prevent premature deaths. After a patient overcomes an acute cardiovascular event, he is referred for rehabilitation to help him restore most of his normal cardiac functions. Purpose This study is part of a European project called vCare (Virtual Coaching Activities for Rehabilitation in Elderly), which aimed to test a rehabilitation program carried out by patients at home with the help of a virtual coach. In Romania, we evaluated the effectiveness of the cardiac rehabilitation program using the vCare system in reducing cardiovascular risk and improving quality of life in patients with heart failure (HF). Methods We conducted a prospective interventional pilot study in which we enrolled a total of 30 patients with HF who were divided into 3 groups: 10 patients in the experimental group (EG), 10 patients in ambulatory group (AG) and another 10 in the control group (CG). The follow-up period lasted 3 months. The patients in the EG performed cardiac rehabilitation (CR) at home using vCare app, patients in the AG underwent conventional CR at Bagdasar Arseni Hospital and those in the CG only received advice at discharge to perform regular physical activity at home and reduced cardiovascular risk factors. At the time of inclusion (time 0) all patients were clinically examined, blood tests and echocardiography were performed and also ECG exercices test for the assessment of exercices capacity and personalization of the CR program in the case of those from EG and AG. Furthermore they filled out several questionnaires (Minnesota, HADS scale, Fagerstrom). At the end of the rehabilitation program (time 1) all patients were reassessed in the same way as at enrollment. Results Patients with HF in EG had an increase in quality of life by up to 30% from time 0 to time 1, in exercices capacity by 4% and a significant decrease in cardiovascular risk factors was identified. Similar data were observed in patients from the AG, while in patients from the CG, a decrease in exercices capacity and a worsening of anxiety and depression were found. Conclusions Patients with HF who perform cardiac rehabilitation using vCare system had similar results compared to the AG and better results compared to CG, especially in terms of quality of life and their activities of daily life. This kind of cardiac rehabilitation can represent a safe and efficient solution for ensuring continuity of medical care and access to personalized motor treatments for patients with cardiological disease.