Experiencia en un programa de rehabilitación cardíaca extrahospitalario usando cardiotacómetros: seguridad y eficacia / Experience in an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program using cardiotachometers: safety and effectiveness / Experiência em programa de reabilitação cardíaca extra-hospitalar com uso de cardiotacômetros: segurança e eficácia

Introducción: El ejercicio físico, integrando la rehabilitación cardíaca (RC), tiene un efecto positivo demostrado en el pronóstico de los pacientes con enfermedad cardiovascular, optimizando el rendimiento cardíaco en términos de capacidad funcional. Mediante los programas de RC se pretende obtener los máximos beneficios clínicos del ejercicio físico con un mínimo riesgo para el paciente. Objetivos: Evaluar la seguridad y eficacia de un programa de RC extrahospitalario en pacientes de todos los niveles de riesgo, monitorizando con cardiotacómetros (instrumento de pulsera que detecta frecuencia cardíaca y permite programar alarmas) a pacientes de moderado y alto riesgo, con base en la ausencia de complicaciones cardíacas graves y la mejoría funcional de los participantes. Material y métodos: Estudio de cohorte retrospectiva, sometida a un plan de RC durante 12 semanas en el período comprendido entre enero de 2014 y marzo de 2020. Se evaluaron parámetros clínicos y funcionales al inicio y al final del plan de rehabilitación, controlando la tolerancia al esfuerzo, la presión arterial y la frecuencia cardíaca mediante el uso de cardiotacómetros. Resultados: Se incluyeron 181 pacientes, con edad promedio de 58,7 ± 9,7 años, 87,8% del sexo masculino, mayoritariamente portadores de cardiopatía isquémica (90,1%). Según la clasificación de la Asociación Americana de Rehabilitación Cardiovascular y Pulmonar, 54 pacientes (29,8%) eran de alto riesgo, 29 (16,0%) de moderado riesgo y 98 (54,1%) de bajo riesgo. En más de 10.000 horas de actividad física realizadas, un paciente requirió el implante de un marcapaso definitivo por bloqueo auriculoventricular completo, sin observarse otras complicaciones graves. Se obtuvo una mejoría significativa (p = 0,001) de la capacidad funcional, que aumentó de 7,34 ± 2,68 a 10,20 ± 2,35 METs (incremento relativo individual promedio 28,1%). Conclusiones: La RC es un tratamiento seguro y efectivo en los pacientes cardiópatas, aún en aquellos de moderado y alto riesgo. El uso de cardiotacómetros permite una adecuada monitorización del ejercicio y una oportuna detección de complicaciones.

Introduction: physical exercise, integrating cardiac rehabilitation (CR), has a proven positive effect on the prognosis of patients with cardiovascular disease, optimizing cardiac performance in terms of functional capacity. CR programs aim to obtain maximum clinical benefits with minimal risks to the patient. Objectives: assess the safety and efficacy of a cardiotachometer-monitored out-of-hospital CR program in high- and moderate-risk patients, based on the absence of major cardiac complications and improvement in participant's functional capacity. Materials and methods: retrospective cohort study, submitted to a CR plan for 12 weeks in the period between January 2014 and March 2020. Clinical and functional parameters were evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the rehabilitation plan, controlling effort tolerance, blood pressure and heart rate using cardiotachometers. Results: 181 patients were included, aged 58.7 ± 9.7 years and 87.8% female, of whom 90% were carriers of ischemic heart disease. According to the classification of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the patients were distributed as follows: 54 (29.8%) at high risk, 29 (16.0%) at intermediate risk, and 98 (54.1%) low risk. In more than ten thousand hours of physical activity performed, one patient required implantation of a permanent pacemaker due to complete atrioventricular block. A significant improvement (p = 0.001) of the functional capacity, from 7.34 ± 2.68 to 10.2 ± 2.35 (mean relative improvement: 28.1%.) was obtained. Conclusions: the CR is a safe and effective procedure for cardiac patients, even in moderate or high-risk subjects. The use of cardiotachometers allows adequate exercise monitoring and timely detection of complications.

Introdução: o exercício físico, integrando a reabilitação cardíaca (RC), tem comprovado efeito positivo no prognóstico de pacientes com doença cardiovascular, otimizando o desempenho cardíaco em termos de capacidade funcional. Os programas de RC visam obter o máximo de benefícios clínicos com riscos mínimos para o paciente. Objetivos: avaliar a segurança e eficácia de um programa de RC fora do hospital monitorado por cardiotacômetro em pacientes de alto e moderado risco, com base na ausência de complicações cardíacas maiores e na melhora da capacidade funcional dos participantes. Materiais e métodos: trata-se de um estudo descritivo, de um plano de RC de 12 semanas, em um período entre janeiro de 2014 a março de 2020. Os parâmetros clínicos e funcionais foram avaliados no início e no final do plano de reabilitação, a tolerância ao esforço, pressão arterial e frequência cardíaca utilizando cardiotacômetros. Resultados: foram incluídos 181 pacientes, com média de idade de 58,7 ± 9,7 anos e 87,8% do sexo masculino, dos quais 90% eram portadores de cardiopatia isquêmica. De acordo com a classificação da Associação Americana de Reabilitação Cardiovascular e Pulmonar, os pacientes foram distribuídos da seguinte forma: 54 (29,8%) de alto risco, 29 (16,0%) de risco intermediário e 98 (54,1%) de baixo risco. Em mais de dez mil horas de atividade física realizada, um paciente necessitou de implante de marcapasso definitivo por bloqueio atrioventricular total. A avaliação final mostrou melhora significativa (p = 0,001) na capacidade funcional medida em METs; este passou de 7,34 ± 2,68 para 10,2 ± 2,35 (melhora relativa média: 28,1%). Conclusões: este trabalho demonstra que a RC é um tratamento seguro e eficaz para pacientes com doenças cardíacas, mesmo em indivíduos de risco moderado e alto. O uso de cardiotacômetros permite o monitoramento adequado do exercício e a detecção oportuna de complicações.

Endocrine Challenges in Patients with Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Heart failure (HF) remains a leading cause of morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality worldwide. Advancement of mechanical circulatory support technology has led to the use of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), reducing hospitalizations, and improving quality of life and outcomes in advanced HF. Recent studies have highlighted how metabolic and endocrine dysfunction may be a consequence of, or associated with, HF, and may represent a novel (still neglected) therapeutic target in the treatment of HF. On the other hand, it is not clear whether LVAD support, may impact the outcome by also improving organ perfusion as well as improving the neuro-hormonal state of the patients, reducing the endocrine dysfunction. Moreover, endocrine function is likely a major determinant of human homeostasis, and is a key issue in the recovery from critical illness. Care of the endocrine function may contribute to improving cardiac contractility, immune function, as well as infection control, and rehabilitation during and after a LVAD placement. In this review, data on endocrine challenges in patients carrying an LVAD are gathered to highlight pathophysiological states relevant to this setting of patients, and to summarize the current therapeutic suggestions in the treatment of thyroid dysfunction, and vitamin D, erythropoietin and testosterone administration.

SMARTphone-based, early cardiac REHABilitation in patients with acute coronary syndromes: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There are well-documented treatment gaps in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease with a lack of clearly defined strategies to assist early physical activity after acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Smartphone technology may provide an innovative platform to close these gaps. OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of this study was to assess whether a smartphone-based, early cardiac rehabilitation program improved exercise capacity in patients with ACS. METHODS: A total of 206 patients with ACS across six tertiary Australian hospitals were included in this randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomized to usual care (UC; including referral to traditional cardiac rehabilitation), with or without an adjunctive smartphone-based cardiac rehabilitation program (S-CRP) upon hospital discharge. The primary endpoint was change in exercise capacity, measured by the change in 6-minute walk test distance at 8 weeks when compared to baseline, between groups. Secondary endpoints included uptake and adherence to cardiac rehabilitation, changes in cardiac risk factors, psychological well-being and quality of life status. RESULTS: Of the 168 patients with complete follow-up (age 56 ± 10 years; 16% females), 83 were in the S-CRP. At 8-week follow-up, the S-CRP group had a clinically significant improvement in 6-minute walk test distance (Δ117 ± 76 vs. Δ91 ± 110 m; P = 0.02). Patients in the S-CRP were more likely to participate (87% vs. 51%, P < 0.001) and adhere (72% vs. 22%, P < 0.001) to a cardiac rehabilitation program. Compared to UC, patients receiving S-CRP had similar smoking cessation rates, LDL-cholesterol levels, blood pressure reduction, depression, anxiety and quality of life measures (all P = NS). CONCLUSION: In patients with ACS, a S-CRP, as an adjunct to UC improved exercise capacity at 8 weeks in addition to participation and adherence to cardiac rehabilitation (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry; ACTRN12616000426482).

Benefits and effectiveness of using a wrist heart rate monitor as a telerehabilitation device in cardiac patients: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Telerehabilitation in cardiology has the potential to become the alternative to regular outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Our study focuses on the wrist heart rate monitor as a telerehabilitation device, defines detected limitations, and compares results between home-based and regular outpatient rehabilitation methods, related to physical fitness, quality of life, and training adherence. The study design was a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Eligible 56 cardiac rehabilitation patients were randomized into a 12-week regular outpatient training group (ROT) and interventional home-based telerehabilitation group (ITG). For both groups, the intensity of the training was prescribed to be performed at 70% to 80% of heart rate reserve for 60 minutes, 3 times a week. The ITG patients started their training with a wrist heart rate monitor in their home environment. These patients received feedback once a week, reflecting data uploaded on the internet application. The ROT patients performed their exercise under the direct supervision of a physical specialist in a regular outpatient clinic. Physical fitness and health-related quality of life were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Training adherence in both groups was determined and compared. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients comleted the intervention (91%); no serious adverse events were recorded. Physical fitness expressed as peak oxygen uptake showed significant improvement (P < .001) in ROT group from 23.4 ±â€Š3.3 to 25.9 ±â€Š4.1 mL/kg/min and (P < .01) in ITG group from 23.7 ±â€Š4.1 to 26.5 ±â€Š5.7 mL/kg/min without significant between-group differences after 12 weeks of intervention. The training adherence between groups was similar. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that telerehabilitation via wrist heart rate monitor could become an alternative kind of cardiac rehabilitation which deserves attention and further analyzing.

Influence of the hydration on autonomic modulation and cardiorespiratory parameters of coronary heart disease patients submitted to a cardiovascular rehabilitation session: crossover clinical trial protocol

Abstract Aims: The influence of fluid replacement, realized during and after the exercise on individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains poorly understood. To investigate the influence of hydration on cardiac autonomic modulation, cardiorespiratory parameters and perceived exertion and discommodity, of coronary heart patients submitted to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) session. Methods: This cross-over clinical trial, will recruit 31 adults with more than 45 years old, participants of a cardiovascular rehabilitation program, with CAD diagnosis. The participants will be submitted to an experimental protocol composed of three phases: I) Maximal stress test; II) Control protocol (CP); and III) Hydration protocol (HP). The CP and HP will consist of 10 min of rest in a supine position, 15 min of warming, 40 min of treadmill exercise, 5 min of cooling down and 60 min of rest in a supine position. In the HP, the participants will be hydrated with mineral water, based on the bodyweight reduction of the CP. The water intake will be divided into eight equal portions, offered during the treadmill exercise and recovery period. On CP and HP will be evaluated linear and nonlinear indices of heart rate variability, the heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen partial saturation, perceived exertion and discommodity on specifics moments. Conclusion: The results of this study will allow us to identify if the proposed protocol will be able to positively influence the outcomes and, consequently, if could be implement in the clinical practice.

Utility of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation for Older Adults.

Center-based cardiac rehabilitation is an evidence-based secondary prevention intervention comprising exercise training, education, and counseling for behavior change in patients with cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, these programs are often financially and logistically prohibitive and thus underused. Home-based cardiac rehabilitation is an alternative that may better enable participation of older adults. This review highlights conceptual benefits and considerations of home-based cardiac rehabilitation. Additional research is required about the efficacy of home-based cardiac rehabilitation in relation to these challenges as well as low socioeconomic status among senior adults, and effective care of those living in rural areas.

Can Older Adults Benefit from Smart Devices, Wearables, and Other Digital Health Options to Enhance Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disease burden globally. Improving reach, access, and effectiveness of postdischarge care through cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention strategies is an international priority. The current proliferation of mobile technology has resulted in widespread development and availability of digital health interventions that can reduce cardiovascular risk. Text-messaging programs and apps have been shown to improve health outcomes. Other areas of research investigating the use of wearable devices are still emerging but lack robust data. Mobile and smartphone ownership is increasing among older populations, and digital health is not limited by age.

The effect of mobile applications for improving adherence in cardiac rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Despite of the established effectiveness, the acceptance and adherence of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) remains sub-optimal. Mobile technologies are increasingly used in promoting CR without any firm evidence of their safety and efficacy. This systematic review and meta-analysis were aimed to assess the effect of mobile applications as an intervention for improving adherence to CR. METHODS: Relevant studies were searched in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science from inception to 29th December 2018. Eligible studies were the ones which used mobile applications as a stand-alone intervention or as the primary component for the intervention directed at improving CR adherence, without any limitations on outpatient or home-based CR. RESULTS: Eight studies were eligible for the systematic review including four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as well as four before-after studies of which only one had control group. Four RCTs and 185 patients in experimental group were included in meta-analysis, which had evaluated the effect of mobile health applications on CR completion and had reported that the adherence of patients using mobile applications was 1.4 times higher than the control group (RR = 1.38; CI 1.16 to 1.65; P = 0.0003). Moreover, we also found mixed results in exercise capacity, mental health and quality of life. CONCLUSION: The use of mobile applications for improving the adherence of the CR might be effective. However, it appears to be in the initial stage of implementing mobile applications in CR and more research is essential to validate their effectiveness.

A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

Despite the evidence that cardiac rehabilitation (CR) reduces the risk of recurrent cardiac events, only a minority of eligible patients are willing to join existing programs at cardiac rehabilitation centers. The unique remote patient monitoring system presented here enables healthcare providers to monitor CR patients at home in real-time and at low cost. The system combines mobile technology, artificial intelligence, and supportive services, expanding the delivery of medical care to the patient's home. The primary aim of the study is to increase the long-term adherence to physical activity in patients who participate in CR via the addition of a home-based digitally monitored CR component to the standard CR program in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), with the idea of forming new habitual health behaviors and increasing the long-term motivation for physical exercise (PE) habits at home. Secondary aims are to assess the program's impact on the physical activity level measured by average steps per day, minutes of exercise per week, blood pressure, metabolic parameters, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio, as well as a quality-of-life (QoL) questionnaire.The study has two arms: (1) home-based monitored exercise using a smart digital garment and wristband, in addition to motivation and reinforcement via text messages; (2) standard CR facility-based exercise. The study design is a randomized, controlled trial comparing standard CR to a home-based monitoring and reinforcement program. The study program is designed for 12 weeks.Clinical tests and anthropometric measurements are performed before and after the study, measuring height, weight, waist circumference, visceral fat and body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and HbA1c and lipid profile. Patients have to complete a baseline survey including socio-demographic characteristics and QoL questionnaire SF-36. At the end of the study, patients complete a survey regarding the use of the smart digital garment's benefits and usability. The study is currently underway.

The effect of music on mood, motivation, and exercise among patients in a cardiac rehabilitation program: A pilot study.

AIM: Exploring the effect of music on mood, motivation, and exercise performance among patients with phase III cardiac rehabilitation. BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation programs address risk factors associated with heart health following acute heart issues or cardiac surgery. In phase III, patients are involved in cardiac health maintenance. Exercise is a major component. Motivating patients to engage in exercise and remain in the program has been problematic. Evidence suggests that music could enhance patient involvement in exercise activities. METHOD: A quasi-experimental design was used in this pilot study. A convenience sample of 17 phase III cardiac rehabilitation patients participated. Data were collected on: mood, motivation, and exercise. Participants responded to the Brief Mood Introspection Scale, a 5-point visual analog scale, and an investigator-designed questionnaire on motivation. Treadmill data (speed, distance, and time) were also collected. RESULTS: At baseline participants scored high on mood, motivation to exercise, and fondness for music. Little change occurred over the 9 week period. Participants in this study walked further, on average, than individuals of the same age. CONCLUSION: Music appears to maintain patients' positive moods, motivate them to exercise and help them to continue rehabilitation efforts. Over time music may encourage patients to walk a further distance.

Examining adherence to activity monitoring devices to improve physical activity in adults with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Activity monitoring devices are currently being used to facilitate and monitor physical activity. No prior review has examined adherence to the use of activity monitoring devices amongst adults with cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Literature from June 2012 to October 2017 was evaluated to examine the extent of adherence to any activity monitoring device used to collect objective physical activity data. Randomized control trials comparing usual care against the use of an activity monitoring device, in a community intervention for adults from any cardiovascular diagnostic group, were included. A systematic search of databases and clinical trials registers was conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. RESULTS: Of 10 eligible studies, two studies reported pedometer use and eight accelerometer use. Six studies addressed the primary outcome. Mean adherence was 59.1% (range 39.6% to 85.7%) at last follow-up. Studies lacked equal representation by gender (28.6% female) and age (range 42 to 82 years). CONCLUSION: This review indicates that current research on activity monitoring devices may be overstated due to the variability in adherence. Results showed that physical activity tracking in women and in young adults have been understudied.

Evaluation of an mHealth-Based Adjunct to Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation.

A pilot study was conducted to determine if a smartphone-based adjunct to standard care could increase the completion rate of a cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP). Based on historical completion rates, 66 participants who were about to commence a hospital-based CRP were randomized so that half received three devices embedded with near-field communication, namely, a smartphone [pre-installed with an application (app) designed specifically for cardiac rehabilitation], portable blood pressure monitor, and weight scale while completing the CRP. The completion rate among participants who were randomized to the intervention group was 88%, compared to 67% in the control group ( = 0.038). This combined with the week-to-week frequency with which participants in the intervention group measured their blood pressure ( 5/week) demonstrated the ability of the intervention to increase the proportion of patients who completed the CRP. No significant differences were found between the treatment groups for the measurements taken at baseline and prior to discharge from the CRP. A statistically significant correlation ( = 0.472; = 0.013) was found between the average time participants walked each day (as estimated via the smartphone app) and participants' six minute walking distance (6MWD) before they were discharged from the CRP (a clinically validated measurement).

Smartphones in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) and secondary prevention are effective components of evidence-based management for cardiac patients, resulting in improved clinical and behavioural outcomes. Mobile health (mHealth) is a rapidly growing health delivery method that has the potential to enhance CR and heart failure management. We undertook a systematic review to assess the evidence around mHealth interventions for CR and heart failure management for service and patient outcomes, cost effectiveness with a view to how mHealth could be utilized for rural, remote and Indigenous cardiac patients. METHODS: A comprehensive search of databases using key terms was conducted for the years 2000 to August 2016 to identify randomised and non-randomised trials utilizing smartphone functionality and a model of care that included CR and heart failure management. Included studies were assessed for quality and risk of bias and data extraction was undertaken by two independent reviewers. RESULTS: Nine studies described a mix of mHealth interventions for CR (5 studies) and heart failure (4 studies) in the following categories: feasibility, utility and uptake studies; and randomised controlled trials. Studies showed that mHealth delivery for CR and heart failure management is feasible with high rates of participant engagement, acceptance, usage, and adherence. Moreover, mHealth delivery of CR was as effective as traditional centre-based CR (TCR) with significant improvement in quality of life. Hospital utilization for heart failure patients showed inconsistent reductions. There was limited inclusion of rural participants. CONCLUSION: Mobile health delivery has the potential to improve access to CR and heart failure management for patients unable to attend TCR programs. Feasibility testing of culturally appropriate mHealth delivery for CR and heart failure management is required in rural and remote settings with subsequent implementation and evaluation into local health care services.

Digitally enhanced recovery: Investigating the use of digital self-tracking for monitoring leisure time physical activity of cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation.

Research has shown that physical activity is essential in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease (CVD). Smart wearables (e.g., smartwatches) are increasingly used to foster and monitor human behaviour, including physical activity. However, despite this increased usage, little evidence is available on the effects of smart wearables in behaviour change. The little research which is available typically focuses on the behaviour of healthy individuals rather than patients. In this study, we investigate the effects of using smart wearables by patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. A field experiment involving 29 patients was designed and participants were either assigned to the study group (N = 13 patients who finished the study and used a self-tracking device) or the control group (N = 16 patients who finished the study and did not use a device). For both groups data about physiological performance during cardiac stress test was collected at the beginning (baseline), in the middle (in week 6, at the end of the rehabilitation in the organized rehabilitation setting), and at the end of the study (after 12 weeks, at the end of the rehabilitation, including the organized rehabilitation plus another 6 weeks of self-organized rehabilitation). Comparing the physiological performance of both groups, the data showed significant differences. The participants in the study group not only maintained the same performance level as during the midterm examination in week 6, they improved performance even further during the six weeks that followed. The results presented in this paper provide evidence for positive effects of digital self-tracking by patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation on performance of the cardiovascular system. In this way, our study provides novel insight about the effects of the use of smart wearables by CVD patients. Our findings have implications for the design of self-management approaches in a patient rehabilitation setting. In essence, the use of smart wearables can prolong the success of the rehabilitation outside of the organized rehabilitation setting.

Linking the Regulatory and Reimbursement Processes for Medical Devices: The Need for Integrated Assessments.

Much criticism has been directed at the licencing requirements for medical devices (MDs) as they often result in a lack of robust evidence to inform health technology assessment (HTA) decisions. To better understand the current international decisional framework on MD technologies, we undertook three linked research studies: a review of the device regulatory procedures, a survey of current HTA practices and an empirical comparison of HTA reports of drugs versus MDs. Our review confirms that current device regulatory processes across the globe are substantially less stringent than drugs. As a result, international HTA agencies report that they face a number of challenges when assessing MDs, including reliance on suboptimal data to make clinical and cost-effectiveness decisions. Whilst many HTA agencies have adapted their processes and procedures to handle MD technology submissions, in our comparison of HTA reports we found little evidence of the application of methodologies that take account of device-specific issues, such as incremental development. Overall, our research reinforces the need for better linkage between licencing and HTA and the development and application of innovative HTA methodologies with the objective of securing faster patient access for those technologies that can be shown to represent good value for money. © 2017 The Authors. Health Economics Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Adoption Decisions for Medical Devices in the Field of Cardiology: Results from a European Survey.

Decisions to adopt medical devices at the hospital level have consequences for health technology assessment (HTA) on system level and are therefore important to decision makers. Our aim was to investigate the characteristics of organizations and individuals that are more inclined to adopt and utilize cardiovascular devices based on a comprehensive analysis of environmental, organizational, individual, and technological factors and to identify corresponding implications for HTA. Seven random intercept hurdle models were estimated using the data obtained from 1249 surveys completed by members of the European Society of Cardiology. The major findings were that better manufacturer support increased the adoption probability of 'new' devices (i.e. in terms of CE mark approval dates), and that budget pressure increased the adoption probability of 'old' devices. Based on our findings, we suggest investigating the role of manufacturer support in more detail to identify diffusion patterns relevant to HTA on system level, to verify whether it functions as a substitute for medical evidence of new devices, and to receive new insights about its relationship with clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. © 2017 The Authors. Health Economics published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Online Pilot: Extending Reach of Cardiac Rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: While cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended for all patients after an acute cardiac event, limitations exist in reach. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to develop and pilot a flexible online CR program based on self-management principles "Help Yourself Online." METHODS: The program was designed as an alternative to group-based CR as well as to complement traditional CR. The program was based on existing self-management resources developed previously by the Heart Research Centre. Twenty-one patients admitted to Cabrini Health for an acute cardiac event were recruited to test the program. The program was evaluated using qualitative and quantitative methods. RESULTS: Quantitative results demonstrated that patients believed the program would assist them in their self-management. Qualitative evaluation, using focus group and interview methods with 15 patients, showed that patients perceived the online CR approach to be a useful instrument for self-management. CONCLUSIONS: Broader implications of the data include the acceptability of the intervention, timing of intervention delivery, and patients' desire for additional online community support.

Smartphone-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: Feasibility Study.

We introduce a cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) that utilizes only a smartphone, with no external devices. As an efficient guide for cardiac rehabilitation exercise, we developed an application to automatically indicate the exercise intensity by comparing the estimated heart rate (HR) with the target heart rate zone (THZ). The HR is estimated using video images of a fingertip taken by the smartphone's built-in camera. The introduced CRP app includes pre-exercise, exercise with intensity guidance, and post-exercise. In the pre-exercise period, information such as THZ, exercise type, exercise stage order, and duration of each stage are set up. In the exercise with intensity guidance, the app estimates HR from the pulse obtained using the smartphone's built-in camera and compares the estimated HR with the THZ. Based on this comparison, the app adjusts the exercise intensity to shift the patient's HR to the THZ during exercise. In the post-exercise period, the app manages the ratio of the estimated HR to the THZ and provides a questionnaire on factors such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and leg pain during exercise, as objective and subjective evaluation indicators. As a key issue, HR estimation upon signal corruption due to motion artifacts is also considered. Through the smartphone-based CRP, we estimated the HR accuracy as mean absolute error and root mean squared error of 6.16 and 4.30bpm, respectively, with signal corruption due to motion artifacts being detected by combining the turning point ratio and kurtosis.