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


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Giallauria
Francesco
F
Department of Clinical Medicine, Cardiovascular and Immunological Sciences, Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy. vigorito@unina.it
Lucci
Rosa
R
Pilerci
Francesco
F
De Lorenzo
Anna
A
Manakos
Athanasio
A
Psaroudaki
Marianna
M
Dagostino
Mariantonietta
M
Vitelli
Alessandra
A
Maresca
Luigi
L
Del Forno
Domenico
D
Vigorito
Carlo
C
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D017216:Telemedicine