Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial of Live-streamed Cardiovascular Rehabilitation (VirtualEX)
Cardiac Disease
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Cardiac Disease focused on measuring Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Virtual Rehabilitation
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patient was discharged from hospitalized at UOHI within the last 12 weeks;
- Patient has stable CHD or repaired valvular disease;
- Patient has been referred to CR and is a candidate an offsite program;
- Patient is able to completed a cardiopulmonary exercise test;
- Patient has access to and regularly uses a smart phone, tablet or computer with Internet access;
- Patient is ≥ 18 years of age (the age of consent in Ontario);
- Patient is able to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patient was hospitalized for heart failure, congenital heart disease, transplant or arrhythmia within the last 6 months;
- Patient, in the opinion of the medical advisor (Dr. Andrew Pipe/Dr. Hassan Mir), manifests illness or disease that would preclude participation in the interventions (e.g. cognitive impairment, active drug or alcohol dependence, unresolved cardiac symptoms).
Sites / Locations
- The University of Ottawa Heart InstituteRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Control (C)
Exercise Streaming (ES)
Exercise Streaming + Equipment (ES+E)
Participants will receive a exercise prescription and a home exercise plan. It will specify how many days per week they should exercise and will indicate how hard they should be working using their heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) as a guide. They will attend 8 onsite rehabilitation classes at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (1 class per week for 8 weeks). These classes will be led by a specially trained instructor who will teach and encourage self-monitoring of heart rate and RPE. The class will include a warm-up, 30 minutes of aerobic exercise and a 15 min cool-down, including strength exercises and stretches. Following each class there will be a short mini-education session highlighting a variety of topics on how to manage risk factors. Patients will have access to onsite classes for nutrition and stress management. Participants will receive access to 8 additional educational videos that highlight topics such as exercise safety, goal setting and nutrition.
Participants will complete 1 "live" virtual class per week for 8-weeks. Classes will be led by a specially trained instructor and will include a warm-up, 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, 10 minutes of strength exercises, and a cooldown and stretching segment. During each live class, the instructor will play the corresponding video and supervise the participants through the Zoom for Healthcare platform. Heart rates and RPE data will be collected from each participant. Participants will have access to other pre-recorded exercise videos that they can stream "on demand" at any time. They will be encouraged to access them "on demand" throughout the week. In addition participants will have access to the same 8 pre-recorded educational videos that the control group will receive. Topics include; exercise safety, goal setting, nutrition, stress management, medication information, risk factor awareness and transition planning.
Participants will receive an indoor bicycle and an exercise band (delivered and set up in their home). Participants will complete 1 "live" class per week for 8 weeks. Their exercise prescription will be based on a stress test. Classes will be led by a specially trained instructor and will include a warm-up, 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, 10 minutes of strength exercises, and a cooldown and stretching segment. During each "live" class, the exercise supervisor will play the corresponding video and supervise the participants through the Zoom for Healthcare platform. Heart rate and RPE data will be collected from each participant. Participants will have access to other pre-recorded exercise videos that they can stream "on demand" at any time. Participants will be encouraged to access them throughout the week. Participants will have access to the same 8 pre-recorded educational videos that the control and exercise streaming groups will receive.