Influence of exercise training on T-wave alternans assessed during exercise test in heart failure patients

Predictors of proarrhythmic effect in heart failure patients after 9-week hybrid comprehensive telerehabilitation and their influence on cardiovascular mortality in long-term follow-up: Subanalysis of the TELEREH-HF randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Regular exercise training is beneficial in heart failure (HF) patients. However, its potential proarrhythmic effect is possible but has not been sufficiently investigated.

OBJECTIVE

To identify patients at risk for proarrhythmic effect after the 9-week of hybrid comprehensive telerehabilitation (HCTR) program vs the 9-week of usual care (UC) and to investigate its predictors and impact on cardiovascular mortality based on data from the TELEREH-HF RCT.

METHODS

Proarrhythmic effect, strictly defined on the basis of available standards was evaluated by comparing 24-h Holter ECG before and after 9-week of HCTR or UC of 773 HF patients (The New York Heart Association class I-III, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%).

RESULTS

The proarrhytmic effect was found in 78 (20.4%) and in 61 (15.6%) patients in the HCTR and UC group respectively, and the difference between groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.081). However, univariate analysis identified several statistically significant predictors of proarrhythmia in HCTR only vs the UC group. After a multivariate analysis ischaemic aetiology of HF (OR = 2.27, p = 0.008), peak oxygen consumption at baseline <14 ml/kg/min (OR = 2.03, p = 0.012) and level of N-terminal-pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in the first and the second tercile (OR = 1.85, p = 0.043) were identified to be independent predictors of proarrhytmic effect of exercise training among the HF patients in HCTR group only.

CONSLUSIONS

Patients who underwent a 9-week HCTR were not at a higher risk of proarrhythmic effect after its completion compared to UC. However, predictors of proarrhythmia such as ischemic aetiology of HF, poor physical capacity, lower NT-proBNP level were discovered in the HCTR group only, yet it does not cause a significant risk of cardiovascular mortality including sudden cardiac death in long-term follow-up.

Hybrid comprehensive telerehabilitation in heart failure patients (TELEREH-HF): A randomized, multicenter, prospective, open-label, parallel group controlled trial-Study design and description of the intervention

Guidelines recommend exercise training as a component of heart failure (HF) management. There are large disparities in access to rehabilitation and introducing hybrid comprehensive telerehabilitation (TR) consisting of remote monitoring of training in patients' homes might be an optimal solution in Poland.

PURPOSE

The primary objective of the TELEREH-HF trial is to determine whether introducing TR will significantly increase days alive and out of hospital compared with usual care. The secondary objectives including assessment the effects of TR compared to usual care on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and all-cause, cardiovascular and HF hospitalization. The tertiary analyses include: evaluation of the safety, effectiveness, quality of life, depression, anxiety, patients' acceptance of and adherence to TR.

METHODS

The TELEREH-HF study is a randomized, multicenter, prospective, open-label, parallel group controlled trial in 850 HF patients after a hospitalization incident in NYHA I-III and LVEF≤40%. Patients were randomized to TR + usual care (TR group) or to usual care only (control group) and are followed for a maximum of 24 months. The TR group patients underwent a 9-week TR program consisting of an initial stage (1 week) conducted at hospital and a basic stage (8-week) home-based TR five times weekly.

RESULTS

All patients were randomized and completed initial intervention in the TR group. The follow up of both groups is in progress.

CONCLUSION

The TELEREH-HF trial will provide novel data on the effects of telerhabilitation on hospitalization and mortality in HF patients, and on safety, quality of life, depression, anxiety and acceptance of and adherence to this intervention.

The management of patients with chronic heart failure: the growing role of e-Health

INTRODUCTION

The increasing pandemic of heart failure is becoming a serious challenge for the health care system. The medical world is searching for solutions which could decrease its scale and improve patients' quality of life and prognosis. Telemanagement of heart failure patients is a new promising option. Technical and technological platforms to perform e-Health management in heart failure patients' homes have become available. This paper's aims are to present different forms of e-Health including telecare, home monitoring of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, remote monitoring of hemodynamic implantable devices and telerehabilitation in providing optimal long term management for heart failure patients. Areas covered: E-education and self-monitoring, structured telephone support and telemonitoring, remote monitoring of cardiovascular implantable electronics devices and hemodynamic implantable electronic devices and telerehabilitation. Expert commentary: The data analyzed in the paper suggests that remote monitoring is capable of identifying life-threatening deterioration and helps heart failure patients avoid seeking medical assistance in hospitals and that home-based telerehabilitation is well accepted, safe, effective and has high adherence among HF patients.