title: Home-Based Exercise in Older Adults Recently Discharged From the Hospital for Cardiovascular Disease in China: Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exercise is important for fitness and recovery of older adults after hospitalization for treatment of cardiovascular disease. Home-based, nurse-led exercise programs may be beneficial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to test the effects of a low-intensity, home-based exercise protocol led by an advanced practice nurse on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), physical fitness, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in older adults after hospital discharge with a cardiovascular disease diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was randomized and single blinded. Seventy-seven older adults (≥75 years old, mean = 80.68 years old) were included; 32 subjects in the intervention and 29 in the control group completed the study. The low-intensity, home-based exercise protocol is composed of 14-type joint exercises and walking for 12 weeks. The main outcome measures were assessments on the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-36, the Senior Fitness Test, and LVEF at baseline and 12 weeks after hospital discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 weeks, the intervention group showed significant improvements in HRQOL (physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, and vitality; p < .05) as well as on the Senior Fitness Test (chair stands, arm curls, Timed Up and Go, and 6-minute walk distance; p < .05); there was no significant improvement in LVEF (p = .56).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low-intensity, home-based exercise led by an advanced practice nurse was effective in improving HRQOL and physical fitness. Adherence was high, and there were no adverse events related to exercise.
authors.affiliation: Xueyu Li, RN, PhD, is Student, Department of Nursing, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China, and is Assistant Nursing Director, Department of Nursing, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command, China. Shunlin Xu, PhD, is Research Coordinator, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. Lijuan Zhou, RN, MD, is Research Coordinator, Department of Nursing, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command, China. Rongbin Li, MD, is Research Coordinator, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China. Jianrong Wang, RN, MD, is Professor, Department of Nursing, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xueyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shunlin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Rongbin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jianrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002681:China; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013318:Stroke Volume