Trial results for The Improving ATTENDance to Cardiac Rehabilitation Trial, investigating an innovative approach to cardiac rehabilitation for patients with Heart Failure and other cardiac conditions, were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-07-29. The hybrid cardiac rehabilitation (HYCR) program led to 58.5% of patients completing 36 sessions within 6 months, compared to 50.7% for traditional center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR).
Background
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a guideline-recommended intervention for patients with cardiovascular disease, including those with heart failure, myocardial infarction, and heart valve diseases. Despite its known benefits, many patients do not complete the maximum number of CR sessions allowed, potentially limiting the full clinical benefit. This trial aimed to assess the efficacy of a hybrid approach, combining both center-based and remote or home-based CR sessions, to improve patient attendance and outcomes.
Trial design
This completed trial, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 282 participants. The study included patients with conditions such as Myocardial Infarction, Heart Failure, Heart Valve Diseases, Cardiac Event, and Angina Pectoris. The intervention group received Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation (HYCR), which combined center-based CR with remote or home-based sessions. The comparator group received traditional Center Based Cardiac Rehabilitation (CBCR), serving as usual care.
Key results
The study reported on several key measurements comparing Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation (HYCR) to Center Based Cardiac Rehabilitation (CBCR):
- Number of CR Sessions Completed Within 6 Months:
- HYCR group: Mean of 28.7 sessions (Standard Error 11.8).
- CBCR group: Mean of 27.6 sessions (Standard Error 11.8).
- Percentage of Patients Completing 36 CR Sessions Within 6 Months:
- HYCR group: 58.5% of patients.
- CBCR group: 50.7% of patients.
- Improvement in Exercise Capacity (Six Min Walk Test):
- HYCR group: Mean improvement of 46 meters (Standard Deviation 46).
- CBCR group: Mean improvement of 50 meters (Standard Deviation 53).
- Improvement in Exercise Capacity (Peak Oxygen Uptake, VO2):
- HYCR group: Mean improvement of 2.3 mL/kg/min (Standard Deviation 2.8).
- CBCR group: Mean improvement of 1.9 mL/kg/min (Standard Deviation 2.8).
- Improvement in Quality of Life (Dartmouth COOP Total Score):
- HYCR group: Mean improvement of -3.9 units on a scale (Standard Deviation 5.0).
- CBCR group: Mean improvement of -3.4 units on a scale (Standard Deviation 5.3).
What this means
The results suggest that a hybrid approach to cardiac rehabilitation may modestly improve patient adherence, with a higher percentage of patients completing the full course of 36 sessions within 6 months compared to traditional center-based care. While the mean number of sessions completed was only slightly higher in the HYCR group, the percentage completing all 36 sessions showed a more notable difference. In terms of exercise capacity, the HYCR group showed a slightly greater improvement in peak oxygen uptake, though the CBCR group had a slightly higher mean improvement in the six-minute walk test. Quality of life improvements were comparable between the two groups. These findings indicate that hybrid cardiac rehabilitation could be a viable strategy to enhance participation in this essential therapy for patients with heart failure and other cardiac conditions.
Source
The information for these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03646760, titled "The Improving ATTENDance to Cardiac Rehabilitation Trial", were posted on 2025-07-29 on clinicaltrials.gov.