Cardiac Rehabilitation Therapy Research Articles

Evaluation of the Functional Reserve and Exercise Tolerance in Patients with CHF in Clinical Trials (Consent Document of the Editorial board of the Journal of Cardiology, the Board of the Society of Specialists in Heart Failure (SSHF) and Working Group "Non-drug treatment methods" of SSHF)

Assessing the functional capacity and exercise tolerance is an important and widely used research tool in patients with heart failure. It is used not only in cardiac rehabilitation and physical therapy, but also for inclusion criteria and outcome measures in studies of drug interventions. This document outlines the scope, guidelines for the implementation and interpretation, and limitations of the methods for assessing the functional capacity and exercise tolerance in clinical trials in patients with heart failure.

Effects of Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation on Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: This study aims to systematically analyze the impact of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: We searched for original studies on the effect of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on patients undergoing PCI published in domestic and foreign databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Knowledge Network (CNKI), and VIP until December 2023. Studies retrieved were screened, and meta-analysis was extracted. The quality of the literature was evaluated; meta-analysis was carried out by RevMan5.4 software (Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). Results: A total of 1073 sufferers undergoing PCI were included in 11 literatures. Meta-analysis displayed that cardiogenic mortality [risk ratio (RR) = 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.08, 0.64)], coronary restenosis rate [RR = 0.59, 95% CI (0.41, 0.87)], revascularization rate [RR = 0.58, 95% CI (0.43, 0.79)], incidence of recurrent angina pectoris [RR = 0.41, 95% CI (0.27, 0.62)], and late lumen loss [RR = –0.60, 95% CI (–0.98, –0.23)] in the trial group, were lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the recurrence rate of myocardial infarction between the test group and the control group [RR = 0.52, 95% CI (0.22, 1.25)]. Conclusion: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation therapy can effectively reduce the risk of major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events, such as cardiogenic death and coronary restenosis after PCI; it reduces the late lumen loss of the stent coronary segment and has no obvious effect on the recurrence of myocardial infarction. However, this therapy tends to reduce the recurrence rate of myocardial infarction.

The effects of CPET-guided cardiac rehabilitation on exercise tolerance in older persons with CHD after PCI

Prescribing appropriate exercise is an important means to improve the safety and efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation. Improper exercise may induce an increased cardiovascular risk in older persons with coronary heart disease. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)-guided cardiac rehabilitation could be helpful for providing clinical evidence for cardiac rehabilitation therapy in older persons after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We retrospectively included older persons who underwent PCI and cardiac rehabilitation based on CPET at the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center of Peking University Third Hospital from January 2014 to December 2019. Patients’ baseline and follow-up clinical data were collected. A total of 403 older persons after PCI were included in the study. The mean age was 80.5 ± 4.3. The mean follow-up time was 12 ± 2 months. During the follow-up period, no significant exercise-related adverse events occurred, and the peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) increased compared with baseline (15.5 ± 3.8 ml/min/kg vs. 17.3 ± 4.1 ml/min/kg). Among the 90 patients (22.2%) without exercise habits at baseline who started regular exercise during follow-up, the improvement in VO2peak was most significant, at 3.2 ± 0.4 ml/min/kg. Cardiac rehabilitation based on CPET improved exercise habits and exercise tolerance in older persons with coronary heart disease after PCI.

Effect of cardiac rehabilitation therapy on depressed patients with cardiac insufficiency after cardiac surgery.

This study aims to analyze the effect of cardiac rehabilitation therapy on cardiac autonomic nervous function in patients with cardiac insufficiency complicated with anxiety depression after cardiac operation to provide a reference for clinical practice. A total of 109 patients subject to cardiac operation in our hospital from January 2020 to March 2023 were enrolled as study subjects, including 50 patients who received conventional rehabilitation therapy (control group) and 69 patients who received cardiac rehabilitation therapy (research group). Before and after treatment, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and central venous pressure (CVP) were determined, and the level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was measured. Low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF), standard deviation of normal to normal (SDNN), and root mean of successive square differences (RMSSD) were measured by a multi-lead ECG system. Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Activity of daily living (ADL), and Barthel Index (BI) were applied for corresponding investigations, as well as the 6-min walk test (6MWT). After treatment, the research group showed higher LVEF, CVP, LF/HF, SDNN, and RMSSD, and lower NT-proBNP, SAS, and SDS than the control group (P < 0.05). Significantly elevated ADL score, BI, and 6MWT and reduced PSQI were observed in both groups after treatment, with more remarkable changes in the research group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, cardiac rehabilitation therapy effectively improved the cardiac function of patients with cardiac insufficiency complicated with anxiety and depression after the cardiac operation and alleviated their negative emotions.

Frailty and heart failure: State-of-the-art review.

At least half of all patients with heart failure (HF) are affected by frailty, a syndrome that limits an individual ability to recover from acute stressors. While frailty affects up to 90% of patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction, it is also seen in ~30-60% of patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction, with ~26% higher prevalence in women compared with men. The relationship between frailty and HF is bidirectional, with both conditions exacerbating the other. Frailty is further complicated by a higher prevalence of sarcopenia (by ~20%) in HF patients compared with patients without HF, which negatively affects outcomes. Several frailty assessment methods have been employed historically including the Fried frailty phenotype and Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale to classify HF patients based on the severity of frailty; however, a validated HF-specific frailty assessment tool does not currently exist. Frailty in HF is associated with a poor prognosis with a 1.5-fold to 2-fold higher risk of all-cause death and hospitalizations compared to non-frail patients. Frailty is also highly prevalent in patients with worsening HF, affecting >50% of patients hospitalized for HF. Such patients with multiple readmissions for decompensated HF have markedly poor outcomes compared to younger, non-frail cohorts, and it is hypothesized that it may be due to major physical and functional limitations that limit recovery from an acute episode of worsening HF, a care aspect that has not been addressed in HF guidelines. Frail patients are thought to confer less benefit from therapeutic interventions due to an increased risk of perceived harm, resulting in lower adherence to HF interventions, which may worsen outcomes. Multiple studies report that <40% of frail patients are on guideline-directed medical therapy for HF, of which most are on suboptimal doses of these medications. There is a lack of evidence generated from randomized trials in this incredibly vulnerable population, and most current practice is governed by post hoc analyses of trials, observational registry-based data and providers' clinical judgement. The current body of evidence suggests that the treatment effect of most guideline-based interventions, including medications, cardiac rehabilitation and device therapy, is consistent across all age groups and frailty subgroups and, in some cases, may be amplified in the older, more frail population. In this review, we discuss the characteristics, assessment tools, impact on prognosis and impact on therapeutic interventions of frailty in patients with HF.

Digital Technology in Cardiovascular Health: Role and Evidence Supporting Its Use.

Digital Technology in Cardiovascular Health: Role and Evidence Supporting Its Use.

Traditional Baduanjin exercise through the eyes of patients with chronic heart failure: A qualitative content analysis study.

Baduanjin (eight silken movements) is a traditional Chinese exercise that can be used as cardiac rehabilitation therapy for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) especially when other forms of rehabilitation are scarce or unaffordable. This study explores the experiences of Chinese patients with CHF who undertook Baduanjin exercise at home as part of a pilot trial in Guangzhou, China. We conducted seven qualitative interviews with participants who had participated in the intervention arm of a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) (n = 8). For data collection, we used a semi-structured interview guide with both open-ended, and follow-up questions. We audio recorded the interviews, transcribed them verbatim, and then analyzed them with content analysis. Participants' experiences of doing Baduanjin were classified into three categories: (1) improving practice (2) factors facilitating good exercise adherence, and (3) feeling good. Participants reported that the exercises were easy but that the correct Baduanjin execution and coordination between the mind, movements, and breathing were only achievable through practice. In addition, the training benefits which they perceived were the predominant motivation for patients to keep practicing. Finally, trust in Baduanjin, personal attitudes toward health, flexibility in practice times, as well as social support helped the participants to achieve good adherence to home-based training. This study's findings indicate that Baduanjin could be a cardiac rehabilitation exercise modality for patients with CHF in China, especially in a home-based setting.

Effects of cardiac rehabilitation with motion assistance from a wearable cyborg hybrid assistive limb on patients with chronic heart failure: a randomized controlled trial with a one-year follow-up.

[Purpose] We have recently reported that using a wearable cyborg hybrid assistive limb improved the isometric knee extensor muscle strength of patients with chronic heart failure. Here, we investigated the long-term effects of a lumbar-type hybrid assistive limb for patients with chronic heart failure. [Participants and Methods] A total of 28 hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure (mean age, 73.1 ± 13.8 years) were randomly assigned to two groups: the hybrid assistive limb group or the control group, in which they performed a sit-to-stand exercise with or without the hybrid assistive limb, respectively. The cardiac rehabilitation therapy included this intervention, which was performed as many times as possible for 5-30 minutes per day for 6-10 days. Clinical assessments like lower-limb muscle strength, walking ability, etc., were measured before and after the intervention. Cardiac events were followed up for up to a year after discharge. [Results] No adverse events occurred during the study period in either group. In terms of long-term effects, the incidence of cardiac events was 23% and 45% in the hybrid assistive limb and the control groups, respectively. [Conclusion] Hybrid assistive limb-assisted exercise therapy may be a safe and feasible cardiac rehabilitation tool in patients with chronic heart failure. The lumbar-type wearable cyborg hybrid assistive limb may have a positive effect on heart failure prognosis by adding long-term exercise therapy.

Abstract 224: Rate Of Rehabilitation Referral After Cardiac Arrest Based On Socioeconomic Status

Cardiac arrest (CA) survivors often suffer physical and cognitive deficits. Unlike survivors of myocardial infarction or stroke, CA survivors are inconsistently referred to rehabilitation services. Social and structural determinants of health affects access to care. We investigated if rehabilitation referral rates for CA survivors differed across race, ethnicity, sex and socioeconomic status (SES) based on median income of patient’s zip code of residence. We included consecutive CA survivors discharged from a single academic medical center 2014-2019. We performed a structured chart review to identify referrals to inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation. Outpatient services included cardiac rehabilitation, PT/OT, and speech therapy. We used Census data to determine median household income for each patient’s zip code of residence. We used Fisher’s Exact test and Kruskal Wallis tests to investigate the difference in referral rates based on income brackets identified from Census data, age, sex, race, and ethnicity. We included 674 CA patients, of whom 367 (54%) arrested out of hospital, 418 (62%) were male, median age was 60 (IQR 49-69) years, 526 (78%) were white, 553 (82%) were non-Hispanic or Latin-x. Overall 387 (57%) were referred to rehabilitation ( n=316 (47%) inpatient-only, n=42 (6%) outpatient-only, n=29 (4%) both). Rehabilitation referral differed across categories of income (p=0.023) (Figure) but showed no consistent trend across consecutive categories. Age was positively associated with referral (odds ratio per decade 1.33; 95% CI 1.21-1.47, p=0.015). There was no association of race, ethnicity or sex with rehabilitation referral. In our single center data, referral to rehabilitation increased with age and was less frequent for patients from neighborhoods with the lowest median income. It did not differ based on sex, race or ethnicity. Future studies should investigate rehabilitation attendance rates in comparison to SES.

Cognitive Dysfunction in Heart Failure: Pathophysiology and Implications for Patient Management.

There is increasing recognition of the prevalence and impact of cognitive dysfunction (CD) in heart failure (HF) patients. This contemporary review appraises the evidence for epidemiological association, direct pathophysiological links and emerging pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Furthermore, we present evidence for care models that aim to mitigate the morbidity and poor quality of life associated with these dual processes and propose future work to improve outcomes. CD disproportionately affects heart failure patients, even accounting for known comorbid risk factors, and this may extend to subclinical left ventricular dysfunction. Neuroimaging studies now provide evidence of anatomical and functional differences which support previously postulated mechanisms of reduced cerebral blood flow, micro-embolism and systemic inflammation. Interventions such as multidisciplinary ambulatory HF care, education and memory training improve HF outcomes perhaps to a greater degree in those with comorbid CD. Additionally, optimisation of standard heart failure care (cardiac rehabilitation, pharmacological and device therapy) may lead to additional cognitive benefits. Epidemiological, neuroimaging and intervention studies provide evidence for the causal association between HF and CD, although evidence for Alzheimer's dementia is less certain. Specific reporting of cognitive outcomes in HF trials and evaluation of targeted interventions is required to further guide care provision.

Secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome by reducing depression and anxiety

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background/Introduction Cardiovascular disease is expected to reach an annual mortality rate of 23 million individuals by 2030, primarily due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and cerebrovascular events. Simply stating the mortality associated with cardiovascular disease underrepresents its true burden considering the associated disability, healthcare expenditure, and loss of quality of life. Specifically, there has been increasing interest in the prevalence of depression and anxiety post-ACS as depressive and anxious symptoms are seen in up to 45% and 30% of patients, respectfully. These symptoms are associated with increased morbidity and mortality as well as decreased quality of life. Thus, it is crucial that secondary prevention be prioritized in this population with a specific focus on psychological wellbeing. Purpose The purpose of the present systematic review is to summarize the current literature on secondary prevention following ACS via interventions aimed at reducing depression and anxiety. Methods A systematic review was conducted of the databases PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane for studies which implemented an intervention to improve depression or anxiety in patients following ACS. Results The initial literature search identified 6,536 studies, of which 97 were added for inclusion with a total of 23,965 participants. Study design comprised 83 randomized control trials, two quasi-experimental studies, and 12 non-randomized experimental studies. The majority of interventions which significantly reduced symptoms of post-ACS anxiety involved modified cardiac rehabilitation programs (20%), aromatherapy (13%), and initiation of a new therapeutic (11%). Conversely, the majority of post-ACS interventions which significantly improved depressive symptoms involved therapy (24%), modified cardiac rehabilitation (24%), and initiation of a new therapeutic (20%). Notably, all aromatherapy (n=6), arts-based (n=3), exercise (n=7), meditation (n=3), and nature therapy (n=1) intervention studies extracted reported significant improvement in either depression or anxiety scores. Conclusions Depressive and anxious symptoms following ACS are associated with increased risk of death, rehospitalization, and poor quality of life. Programs which involve modified cardiac rehabilitation programs, aromatherapy, therapeutic agents, and therapy may increase secondary prevention of ACS by improving symptoms of depression and anxiety. Due to the heterogeneity of the programs identified, significant differences in sample size across studies, and the variety of depression/anxiety scales used, a large-scale randomized control trial comparing intervention efficacy is needed. Such a trial, as well as the present systematic review, may improve secondary prevention of ACS by identifying strategies to reduce depression and anxiety in this population.

Current Status and Issues of Remote Cardiac Rehabilitation Therapy

Current Status and Issues of Remote Cardiac Rehabilitation Therapy

The Use of Virtual Therapy in Cardiac Rehabilitation of Male Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Randomized Pilot Study.

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality therapy (VRT) in the treatment of anxiety–depressive disorders and in reducing stress levels in a group of men with coronary heart disease (CHD) participating in cardiac rehabilitation (CR). The study included 34 men with CHD who were assigned to the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG). CR in the EG was supported by 8 VRT sessions, while CR in the CG was supplemented with 8 SAT sessions. Anxiety–depressive disorders were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Perceived stress was assessed using the Perception of Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). In the EG, all measured parameters improved after the intervention. Significant reductions in HADS total score, the HADS-A, general stress score, emotional tension, and the external stress were obtained. In the CG, a deterioration in all measured parameters was observed. Significant changes were obtained in the general stress score and intrapsychic stress. The analysis between groups showed that the effectiveness of psychological interventions significantly differed between groups. The study results confirmed that supplementing standard CR with VRT leads to an improvement in the mental state of the patients and thus has a positive effect on the course of CR. However, the small sample size and high withdrawal rate prompt cautious interpretation of the results.

Pulmonary Hypertension and Diastolic Heart Failure in an Adolescent African-American Cantú Syndrome Patient

<h3>Introduction</h3> Cantú syndrome is a rare congenital condition characterized by hypertrichosis, coarse facial features, cardiomegaly, skeletal abnormalities, and tortuous vasculature. While progress has been made in the understanding of the molecular basis of this disease, there is still much to be uncovered regarding its natural history. Here, we present the clinical course of an African-American male with Cantú syndrome. <h3>Case Report</h3> A 4-month-old African-American male presented to the hospital with respiratory distress. A large pericardial effusion was identified, which required a pericardial window. Cardiac catheterization revealed pulmonary hypertension. At age 4, a diagnosis of Cantú syndrome was made on the basis of developmental delay, cardiomegaly, history of pericardial effusion, pulmonary hypertension, coarse facial features, hypertrichosis, wide/thickened ribs, and osteopenia. He developed chronic diastolic heart failure secondary to cardiomegaly and chronic hypercarbic respiratory failure requiring home oxygen and nocturnal bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) therapy. Pulmonary hypertension treatment was initiated with sildenafil at age 13, resulting in significant improvement in exercise tolerance. Cardiac catheterization at 17 years of age demonstrated worsening pulmonary hypertension with baseline RV pressures of 85/18 mmHg and pulmonary artery (PA) pressures of 85/40 mmHg. Baseline pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was 15.7 Woods Units/m2. Vasoreactivity to O2 and inhaled nitric oxide was demonstrated with PVR decreasing to 6.6 and 5.5 Woods Units/m2 respectively. Carvedilol and cardiac rehabilitation therapy were initiated at age 19. On a recent admission, he required milrinone support due to worsening right ventricular (RV) dysfunction which was weaned prior to discharge. <h3>Summary</h3> Cantú syndrome is a rare genetic condition and its prevalence and prognosis are still unknown. Interestingly, nearly all patients in the International Cantú Syndrome Registry are Caucasian while our patient is African-American. Additionally, with no family history of the disease, it is possible that his case represents a sporadic mutation. Unfortunately, our patient exhibited progressive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and hypercarbic respiratory failure during his adolescent years.

Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation Therapy Combined with WeChat Platform Education on Patients with Unstable Angina Pectoris after PCI.

Objective The aim of this study is to explore the effect of cardiac rehabilitation therapy combined with WeChat platform education on patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods Eighty-eight UAP patients undergoing PCI in our hospital from June 2018 to June 2021 were chosen as the study subjects and were grouped according to the intervention methods. Specifically, patients receiving routine treatment only were included as the control group (CG) and those receiving cardiac rehabilitation therapy combined with WeChat platform education based on the routine treatment were included as the study group (SG), with 44 cases in each group. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups after intervention. Results Compared with CG, SG achieved notably better biochemical indexes of TC, TG, FBG, FIB, LDL-c, and HDL-c after 12 months of intervention (P < 0.05), lower systolic pressure (SBP), and diastolic pressure (DBP) after intervention (P < 0.05), and higher scores of limited mobility, anginal stability, anginal frequency, subjective perception, treatment satisfaction, and total SAQ after 12 months of intervention (P < 0.05). The LVEF levels of both groups increased after intervention (P < 0.05), and the LVEF level was higher in SG than in CG (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse cardiac events such as heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death was slightly higher in CG than in SG within 12 months of intervention, with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). The UAP recurrence rate and incidence of myocardial infarction in CG were obviously higher than those in SG (P < 0.05). Conclusion Cardiac rehabilitation therapy combined with WeChat platform education intervention measures for UAP patients after PCI can effectively control the biochemical indexes such as blood lipid and blood glucose, improve the cardiac function, stabilize the disease condition, lower the recurrence rate, and reduce the incidence of other cardiac adverse events.

Effects of Cardiac Rehabilitation With Lumbar-Type Hybrid Assistive Limb on Muscle Strength in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure - A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aiming to establish an effective tool in new cardiac rehabilitation programs, we investigated the use of a lumbar-type hybrid assistive limb (HAL) in patients with heart failure (HF) who had difficulty in walking at the usual speed of healthy subjects (≈80 m/min).Methods and Results:We randomly assigned 28 HF patients (age, 73.1±13.8 years) to perform a sit-to-stand exercise with or without HAL. The sit-to-stand exercise was repeated as many times as possible as cardiac rehabilitation therapy over a period of 6-10 days. We measured 5 parameters before and after the completion of cardiac rehabilitation: B-type natriuretic peptide, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), 6-min walking distance (6MWD), 30-s chair-stand test (CS-30), and isometric knee extensor muscle strength. The SPPB and 6MWD were significantly improved, and the CS-30 score was somewhat improved, after the exercise therapy in both the HAL and non-HAL groups. The knee extensor muscle strength improved significantly in the HAL group (0.29±0.11 to 0.35±0.11 kgf/kg, P<0.01), but showed no change in the non-HAL group (0.35±0.11 to 0.35±0.13 kgf/kg, P=0.40). The improved knee extensor muscle strength in the HAL group suggests that the lumbar-type HAL may be an effective tool for cardiac rehabilitation in HF patients with frailty, which is a predictor of poor prognosis in HF.

The Use of Virtual Therapy in Cardiac Rehabilitation of Female Patients with Heart Disease.

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become increasingly prevalent in women, and it is also in this group that the risk of developing depression is the highest. The most commonly applied therapeutic intervention in cardiac rehabilitation is Schultz’s autogenic training, which has proven to be of little efficacy in reducing depression and anxiety disorders. At the same time, a growing number of scientific reports have been looking at the use of virtual reality (VR) to treat mental health problems. This study aimed at assessing the efficacy of virtual therapy in reducing levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in female CVD patients. Materials and Methods: The study included 43 women who were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (N = 17), where eight-week cardiac rehabilitation was enhanced with VR-based therapeutic sessions, and control group (N = 26), where the VR therapy was replaced with Schultz’s autogenic training. Mental state parameters were measured using the Perception of Stress Questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: In the experimental group, the sole parameter which failed to improve was HADS-Anxiety, which remained at the baseline level. In the control group, there was a deterioration in nearly all tested parameters except for HADS-Depression. Statistically significant differences in the efficacy of rehabilitation were recorded in relation to the level of stress in the sub-scales: emotional tension (p = 0.005), external stress (p = 0.012), intrapsychic stress (p = 0.023) and the generalized stress scale (p = 0.004). Conclusions: VR therapy is an efficient and interesting complement to cardiac rehabilitation, with proven efficacy in reducing stress levels.

Prognostic Value of Pre-Transplant Peak Oxygen Consumption on Post-Transplant Survival: ISHLT Registry Analysis

<h3>Purpose</h3> Cardiopulmonary exercise testing provides an integrative assessment of multiorgan physiological response to exercise involving the pulmonary, cardiovascular, hematopoietic, neuropsychological, and skeletal muscle systems. The predictive value of peak ventilatory oxygen consumption (maxVo₂) in optimizing the timing of heart transplantation (HT) is well established, but its prognostic value for HT outcomes is not known. We aimed to study the predictive role of pre-HT maxVo₂ for 1-month and 1-year mortality after HT. <h3>Methods</h3> We performed an analysis of adult HT recipients in the ISHLT Registry transplanted between 1996 and 2017. Recipients were stratified into quartiles by pre-HT maxVo₂. Using multivariable regression modelling we assessed the associations of maxVo₂ with 1-month post-transplant mortality and 1-year post-transplant mortality conditional on survival to 1 month. <h3>Results</h3> Among 12,606 recipients, 26% were women. Median maxVo₂ was lower in women (11.5 mL/kg/min [IQR 9,13]) vs men (12.0 mL/kg/min [IQR 10,14], p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, upper maxVo₂ quartile (15-20 mL/kg/min) was associated with a lower risk of 1-month mortality (HR 0.67, p=0.01, Figure 1A). There was a gradual decrease of 1-year conditional mortality risk with increasing max Vo₂ quartiles (Figure 1B). There was no interaction with recipient sex. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Beyond its key application for prognosis in heart failure and determination of candidacy for HT, maxVo2 has a predictive value for post-HT survival. Patients in the highest maxVo₂ quartile are at the lowest risk of 1-month mortality, suggesting perioperative advantage for patients with less functional limitation. More importantly, pre-transplant maxVo₂ impairment across the 4 quartiles is associated with risk of mortality between 1-month and 1-year. Whether this risk can be modified by cardiac rehabilitation and physical therapy programs individualized by pre-transplant maxVo₂ should be investigated.

Needs for remote cardiac rehabilitation and remote music therapy in recent circumstances

Needs for remote cardiac rehabilitation and remote music therapy in recent circumstances

Wearable Monitoring and Interpretable Machine Learning Can Objectively Track Progression in Patients during Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are often characterized by their multifactorial complexity. This makes remote monitoring and ambulatory cardiac rehabilitation (CR) therapy challenging. Current wearable multimodal devices enable remote monitoring. Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) can help in tackling multifaceted datasets. However, for clinical acceptance, easy interpretability of the AI models is crucial. The goal of the present study was to investigate whether a multi-parameter sensor could be used during a standardized activity test to interpret functional capacity in the longitudinal follow-up of CR patients. A total of 129 patients were followed for 3 months during CR using 6-min walking tests (6MWT) equipped with a wearable ECG and accelerometer device. Functional capacity was assessed based on 6MWT distance (6MWD). Linear and nonlinear interpretable models were explored to predict 6MWD. The t-distributed stochastic neighboring embedding (t-SNE) technique was exploited to embed and visualize high dimensional data. The performance of support vector machine (SVM) models, combining different features and using different kernel types, to predict functional capacity was evaluated. The SVM model, using chronotropic response and effort as input features, showed a mean absolute error of 42.8 m (±36.8 m). The 3D-maps derived using the t-SNE technique visualized the relationship between sensor-derived biomarkers and functional capacity, which enables tracking of the evolution of patients throughout the CR program. The current study showed that wearable monitoring combined with interpretable ML can objectively track clinical progression in a CR population. These results pave the road towards ambulatory CR.