Early Mobilization in Older Adults With Acute Cardiovascular Disease

Early Mobilization in Older Adults With Acute Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective, Multi-centre Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial

The EM-HEART study is a prospective, multi-centre stepped wedge cluster randomized trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a pragmatic early mobilization (EM) program to improve patient-centred and clinical outcomes in older adults with acute CV disease. There will be 256 participants ≥60 years old with acute CV disease enrolled at 6 participating Canadian hospitals. The study will investigate whether EM improves functional status during admission, as compared to usual care, and whether this leads to improved health-related quality of life post-hospitalization. Functional status will be measured with the validated Level of Function Mobility Scale. The primary outcome will be the Short-Form SF-36 physical component scale score at 1-month post-hospitalization. Secondary outcomes include functional status and hospital readmission at 1-month post-hospitalization.

The EM-HEART study is a prospective, multi-centre stepped wedge cluster randomized trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a pragmatic EM program to improve patient-centred and clinical outcomes in older adults with acute CV disease. There will be 256 participants ≥60 years old with acute CV disease enrolled at 6 participating Canadian hospitals. The study will investigate whether EM improves functional status during admission, as compared to usual care, and whether this leads to improved health-related quality of life post-hospitalization. Functional status will be measured with the validated Level of Function Mobility Scale. The primary outcome will be the Short-Form SF-36 physical component scale score at 1-month post-hospitalization. Secondary outcomes include functional status and hospital readmission at 1-month post-hospitalization. Nested cohort studies will explore (1) the relationship between EM, sedentary time, and posthospitalization outcomes and (2) the impact of EM on muscle mass loss and inflammation in older adults with acute CV disease.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age ≥ 60 years
• no planned cardiac surgery during admission

Exclusion Criteria:

• projected cardiac ICU stays less than 24 hours
• patients unable to complete follow-up