Hybrid vs. Center-based Cardiac Rehabilitation for Cardiovascular Disease

Not currently recruiting at 8 trial locations

Overseen By Mathieu Bélanger

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Université de Sherbrooke

Disqualifiers: Physical or cognitive conditions, prior CR, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether a mix of hospital and home-based cardiac rehabilitation (Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation Intervention) is more effective than traditional hospital-only programs (Center-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Intervention) for individuals with cardiovascular disease. The researchers aim to determine if the hybrid method helps maintain physical activity, mental health, functional ability, and quality of life six months after the program ends. Participants attend the hospital for six weeks and then gradually shift to home sessions with weekly follow-up calls. Individuals with cardiovascular disease who qualify for the Vitalité Health Network's cardiac rehab program might be a good fit. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could enhance future cardiac rehabilitation options.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this hybrid cardiac rehabilitation program is safe for people with cardiovascular disease?

Research shows that hybrid cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is generally safe for people with heart disease. Studies indicate that participants in hybrid CR programs experience fewer heart-related problems compared to those in regular programs. One study found that the hybrid group had 3.80% fewer issues. This suggests the program is not only effective but also well-tolerated.

Another study found that patients in home-based cardiac rehab, similar to hybrid CR, were very satisfied and developed better exercise habits. These findings suggest that hybrid CR can be a safe and comfortable choice for many people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it compares two different approaches to cardiac rehabilitation for people with cardiovascular disease. Unlike traditional center-based programs, which require patients to attend sessions at a specific location, the hybrid cardiac rehabilitation program offers a mix of in-person and remote sessions. This flexibility can make it easier for people to fit rehabilitation into their busy lives and potentially improve adherence to the program. By exploring these different methods, the trial aims to determine which approach is more effective in improving patient outcomes, ultimately offering more personalized and accessible care options.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for cardiovascular disease?

This trial will compare the effectiveness of hybrid cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs with center-based CR programs. Research has shown that hybrid CR programs can be as effective as traditional ones. For example, one study found that hybrid CR worked as well as standard CR for individuals with coronary artery disease. Another study demonstrated that hybrid CR programs reduced the chance of a second heart attack by 7% and lowered the risk of hospitalization by 23%. A review of multiple studies highlighted that hybrid CR is a safe and effective option for those with heart disease, offering various benefits. These findings suggest that hybrid CR could be a good alternative to center-based programs for maintaining physical and mental health, as well as quality of life. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Pamela Tanguay

Principal Investigator

Université de Sherbrooke

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 19 with cardiovascular disease who are eligible for the Vitalité Health Network Cardiac rehabilitation program. It's not specified who can't join, so it may be open to many people.

Inclusion Criteria

I am eligible for the Vitalité Cardiac Rehab program.

I am over 19 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

Have previously participated in a Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) program.

I cannot join an exercise program due to a physical or mental condition.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a 12-week hybrid cardiac rehabilitation program. For the first six weeks, patients attend the hospital twice a week, followed by a gradual increase in home sessions with weekly phone follow-ups for the remaining six weeks.

12 weeks

12 visits (in-person), 6 phone follow-ups

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for maintenance of physical activity, functional capacity, mental health, and quality of life six months after the end of the program.

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Center-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Intervention
• Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation Intervention

Trial Overview The study compares a hybrid cardiac rehab program (partly at hospital, partly at home) with a traditional center-based one. The focus is on whether the hybrid approach better maintains health benefits six months post-rehab.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Hybrid cardiac rehabilitation program Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Center-based cardiac rehabilitation program Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Université de Sherbrooke

Lead Sponsor

Trials

317

Recruited

79,300+

Citations

1. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2813749

Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in a Low-Resource ... A Cochrane review indicated that CR was associated with reduced likelihood of a second heart attack by 7% and hospitalization risk by 23% ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10777264/

Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in a Low-Resource ... In this randomized clinical trial involving 191 patients with coronary artery disease, hybrid CR was not inferior to standard CR. Participants ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10432031/

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized ... These results suggest that HCTR can be a safe and effective alternative to traditional rehabilitation care, offering numerous benefits for CVD ...

4. jacc.org jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacasi.2025.08.007

Long-Term Outcomes of Digital Cardiac Rehabilitation In a randomized controlled trial involving 150 patients with acute coronary syndrome, the application significantly improved lifestyle and CR outcomes over 6 ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S197613172300035X

A Theory-Based, Technology-Assisted Intervention in ... The findings demonstrated that technology-assisted intervention in a hybrid cardiac rehabilitation program was feasible and suggested to be beneficial.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10964460/

Safety and long-term outcomes of remote cardiac ... To systematically review the safety and the long-term mortality and morbidity risk-rates of the remotely-delivered cardiac rehabilitation ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772374725004454

Long-Term Outcomes of Digital Cardiac Rehabilitation Several studies suggest that patients participating in home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) report higher satisfaction, better exercise adherence, and ...

8. ahajournals.org ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001289

Core Components of Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) reduces mortality rates and improves the quality of life of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), and its use ...