Comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Feasibility After Stroke

Comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Feasibility After Stroke

Comprehensive Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Feasibility After Stroke (CCR FAST) will evaluate the feasibility of enrolling Regions Hospital stroke patients in a Comprehensive Cardiovascular Rehabilitation (CCR) program. CCR will include aerobic exercise and patient education (regarding risk factors and medication compliance), similar to the rehabilitation program for cardiac disease patients. The overall goal of CCR FAST is to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of including stroke patients in a CCR program, while examining the clinical value in reducing stroke recurrence, myocardial infarction, readmission, and mortality in stroke patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Patient has suffered an ischemic stroke
• Patient should be ambulatory (non-disabling stroke) to be able to participate in the CCR exercise program
• Patient is able to start cardiac rehabilitation within 2 weeks of stroke

Exclusion Criteria:

• No baseline (index admission for ischemic stroke) MRI completed
• Life expectancy < 1-year
• Presence of brain hemorrhage: intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, or epidural hematoma
• Concurrent diagnosis of seizure disorder
• Patient with moderate or severe neurologic deficits, limiting their ability to participate in the CCR exercise program
• Cardiopulmonary conditions preventing the patient from participation, such as severe heart failure, severe aortic stenosis, and exercise-induced asthma
• Patient with cognitive dysfunction impairing their ability to follow directions
• Anticipated procedures such as carotid stenting, carotid endarterectomy, and intracranial aneurysm coiling
• Patient unable to commit to the frequent visits of the CCR program
• Participation in other interventional research (observational research is allowed)
• Unable to have brain MRI
• Non-English speaker
• Pregnant women