Effects of Cardiac Telerehabilitation During COVID-19 on Cardiorespiratory Capacities in Coronary Artery Disease Patients.

Effects of Cardiac Telerehabilitation During COVID-19 on Cardiorespiratory Capacities in Coronary Artery Disease Patients.

After an acute coronary syndrome, an adapted cardiac rehabilitation program is necessary to restore or increase physical capacities and decrease cardiovascular risk. This multidisciplinary care combines physical training sessions and therapeutic education workshops.

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed restrictions such as the closure of rehabilitation centres. To remedy this problem, one solution was to adapt the existing program to a remote cardiac telerehabilitation, i.e., medical and paramedical supervision of rehabilitation sessions and therapeutic patient education meetings via digital tools. Recent studies have shown that it was a safe (no reported adverse effects), effective (similar gains in peak oxygen consumption compared to traditional cardiac rehabilitation and patient-adherence alternative.

The hypothesis of this study is that telerehabilitation was more effective on cardiorespiratory functions.

Inclusion Criteria:

Both groups:

• Acute Coronary Syndrome treated in the last 6 months
• Medical revascularization (angioplasty ± stenting) or surgical (coronary artery bypass)

For Telerehabilitation group:

• Internet connexion (computer or digital tablet)
• Equipped with an exercise bike

Exclusion Criteria:

Both groups:

• Pulmonary hypertension
• Aortic pathway anomaly
• Uncontrolled ventricular rhythm disorders

For Telerehabilitation group:

• Important muscular deconditioning
• Patient requiring medical supervision in institute