Technology-assisted cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease patients with central obesity: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Limited empirical evidence is available regarding the effect of technology-assisted cardiac rehabilitation (TACR) among coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with central obesity. AIM: To determine the effects of 12-week TACRon health outcomes of patients with CHD. DESIGN: Two-arm randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Cardiovascular department of a regional hospital. POPULATION: Coronary heart disease patients with central obesity. METHODS: The study randomized 78 hospitalized CHDpatients to receive either the 12-week TACRintervention or usual care. Guided by social cognitive theory, the intervention began with an in-person assessment and orientation session to assess and identify individual risks and familiarize with the e-platform/device before discharge. After discharge, patients were encouraged to visit the interactive CRwebsite for knowledge and skills acquisition, data uploading, use the pedometer for daily step tracking, and interact with peers and professionals via social media for problem-solving and mutual support. Data were collected at baseline (T0), six-week (T1), and 12-week (T2). RESULTS: Participants in the intervention group showed significant improvement in daily steps at six weeks but not 12 weeks (T1: β=2713.48, P=0.03; T2:β=2450.70, P=0.08), weekly sitting minutes (T1: β=-665.17, P=0.002; T2: β=-722.29, P=0.02), and total (vigorous, moderate, and walking) exercise at 12-week (β=-2445.99, P=0.008). Improvement in health-promoting lifestyle profile (T1: β=24.9, P<0.001; T2: β=15.50, P<0.001), smoking cessation (T2: β=-2.28, P<0.04), self-efficacy (T2: β=0.63, P=0.02), body mass index (T1:β =-0.97, P=0.03; T2: β=-0.73, P=0.04) and waist circumferences (T1: β =-1.97, P=0.003; T2: β =-3.14, P=0.002) were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated the effectiveness of the TACRintervention in improving healthy behaviors and anthropometric parameters for CHDpatients with central obesity. Individual assessment, collaborative action planning, and ongoing obesity management support should be highlighted in TACRprograms for CHDpatients. CLINICALREHABILITATION IMPACT: Central obesity should be assessed and highlighted in TACRintervention as an independent risk factor that requires corresponding behavior change and body fat management.