Efficacy, Feasibility, Adherence and Cost Effectiveness of a mHealth Telerehabilitation Program in Low Risk Cardiac Patients: A Study Protocol

• Main Authors: José-Manuel Pastora-Bernal, Joaquín-Jesús Hernández-Fernández, María-José Estebanez-Pérez, Guadalupe Molina-Torres, Francisco-José García-López, Rocío Martín-Valero
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: telerehabilitation; physical therapy modalities; cardiovascular diseases; telemedicine; cost-benefit analysis
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/8/4038

Individual and group cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by reducing recurrent events, improving risk factors, aiding compliance with drug treatment, and improving quality of life through physical activity and education. Home-based programs are equally effective in improving exercise capacity, risk factors, mortality, and health-related quality of life outcomes compared to hospital-based intervention. Cardio-telerehabilitation (CTR) programs are a supplement or an alternative to hospital rehabilitation programs providing similar benefits to usual hospital and home care. Despite this statement, implementation in the public and private healthcare environment is still scarce and limited. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy, feasibility, and adherence of a personalized eight-week mHealth telerehabilitation program in low-risk cardiac patients in the hospital of Melilla (Spain). The secondary aims were to investigate patient satisfaction, identify barriers of implementation and adverse events, and assess cost-effectiveness from a health system perspective. A study protocol for a single center prospective controlled trial was conducted at the Regional Hospital of Melilla (Spain), with a sample size of (n = 30) patients with a diagnosis of low-risk CVD with class I heart failure according to NYHA (New York Heart Association). Outcomes of this study, will add new evidence that could support the use of CTR in cardiac patients clinical guidelines.