Feasibility and Effects of a Home-Based Cardiac Telerehabilitation Program Following Coronary Intervention: A pilot study

Purpose: Despite the well-established benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), patient participation remains low due to multiple barriers.Home-based cardiac telerehabilitation (HBCTR) has emerged as a promising alternative to improve accessibility and adherence.This study evaluated the feasibility and clinical effects of an HBCTR program in patients who had undergone coronary interventions.Methods: Patients diagnosed with angina or myocardial infarction who recently underwent coronary intervention were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the HBCTR group (n= 6) or the control group (n= 6).The HBCTR group completed a 4-week home-based program using a smartphone and smartwatch application that monitored heart rate, exercise duration, and Borg scale ratings.Physical therapists remotely adjusted exercise intensity and provided feedback.Physical function, body composition, quality of life, and physical activity levels were assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at the 3-month follow-up.Results: Compared with baseline, the HBCTR group demonstrated increased exercise participation, improved aerobic capacity, and reduced body fat percentage.In the 6-min walk test, walking distance increased significantly from baseline (421.25 49.50m) to immediate follow-up (456.92 41.26m) and to 3-month follow-up (488.75 33.71m) (p < 0.001).Moderate-intensity physical activity was maintained for up to 3 months.No major adverse events were reported. Conclusion:The HBCTR program appeared to enhance physical activity and aerobic fitness in patients with cardiovascular disease.Findings from this pilot study suggest that HBCTR is feasible and accessible as a complementary model to hospital-based CR.Larger randomized controlled trials incorporating real-time monitoring are needed to validate these preliminary observations.