Efficacy of telecardiology in improving the results of cardiac rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction

• Published in: Monaldi archives for chest disease 2006-03, Vol.66 (1), p.8-12
• Main Authors: Giallauria, Francesco, Lucci, Rosa, Pilerci, Francesco, De Lorenzo, Anna, Manakos, Athanasio, Psaroudaki, Marianna, Dagostino, Mariantonietta, Vitelli, Alessandra, Maresca, Luigi, Del Forno, Domenico, Vigorito, Carlo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; cardiac rehabilitation; Case-Control Studies; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory - methods; Exercise Test; Home Care Services; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; myocardial infarction; Myocardial Infarction - rehabilitation; Patient Compliance; Program Evaluation - statistics & numerical data; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; telecardiology; Telemedicine
• ISSN: 1122-0643; 2532-5264
• DOI: 10.4081/monaldi.2006.536

This study was addressed to verify if Telecardiology (TC) improves the results of Cardiac Rehabilitation in patients following a home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program (CRP) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We studied three groups of patients after AMI: Group A (control group): 15 patients, who followed a standard in-hospital CRP of 3 weekly sessions of 2 months duration; Group B (study group): 15 patients, who were enrolled in a home-based CRP of similar duration and were monitored by TC with the aid of an ecg-device (Sorin Life Watch CG 6106); Group C (second control group): 15 patients, who followed a home-based CRP without ecg-monitoring by TC. All patients performed a symptom-limited exercise testing at the beginning of the CRP. Psychometric data (STAI-Y1, STAI-Y2, BDI) were also evaluated. At the end of the CRP all patients underwent repeated exercise testing and psychometric evaluation. TC applied to the home-based CRP was associated with a good compliance to the program. Compared to Group C, in Group B we observed an increase of maximal heart rate, exercise duration, maximal work-load, and an improvement of anxiety, a trend to reduction of depression, and an improvement of quality of life. These results were very similar to Group A patients following a hospital-based CRP. TC improves compliance, functional capacity and psychological profile of patients undergoing a home-based CRP, compared to patients enrolled in a home-based CRP without ecg-monitoring by Telecardiology.