Remote cardiac rehabilitation is a good alternative of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in the COVID-19 era.
10.1186/s12199-020-00885-2
- Author:
Atsuko NAKAYAMA
1
;
Naoko TAKAYAMA
2
;
Momoko KOBAYASHI
2
;
Kanako HYODO
2
;
Naomi MAESHIMA
2
;
Fujiwara TAKAYUKI
3
;
Hiroyuki MORITA
4
;
Issei KOMURO
3
Author Information
1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan. st7089-fki@umin.ac.jp.
2. Nursing Department, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
3. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan.
4. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan. hmrt-tky@umin.ac.jp.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
COVID-19;
Cardiac rehabilitation;
Remote medicine
- MeSH:
Aged;
Betacoronavirus;
Cardiac Rehabilitation;
methods;
Coronavirus Infections;
epidemiology;
Heart Failure;
rehabilitation;
Humans;
Japan;
Middle Aged;
Monitoring, Ambulatory;
Pandemics;
Pneumonia, Viral;
epidemiology;
Prospective Studies;
Self Care;
Telemedicine;
methods;
Telephone
- From:Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
2020;25(1):48-48
- CountryJapan
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND:In the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, people need to practice social distancing in order to protect themselves from SARS-CoV-2 infection. In such stressful situations, remote cardiac rehabilitation (CR) might be a viable alternative to the outpatient CR program.
METHODS:We prospectively investigated patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) with a left ventricular ejection fraction of < 50%. As for patients who participated in the remote CR program, telephone support was provided by cardiologists and nurses who specialized in HF every 2 weeks after discharge. The emergency readmission rate within 30 days of discharge was compared among the outpatient CR, remote CR, and non-CR groups, and the EQ-5D score was compared between the outpatient CR and remote CR groups.
RESULTS:The participation rate of HF patients in our remote CR program elevated during the COVID-19 pandemic. As observed in the outpatient CR group (n = 69), the emergency readmission rate within 30 days of discharge was lower in the remote CR group (n = 30) than in the non-CR group (n = 137) (P = 0.02). The EQ-5D score was higher in the remote CR group than in the outpatient CR group (P = 0.03) 30 days after discharge.
CONCLUSIONS:Remote CR is as effective as outpatient CR for improving the short-term prognosis of patients hospitalized for heart failure post-discharge. This suggests that the remote CR program can be provided as a good alternative to the outpatient CR program.
