What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: RCT. Population: Patients accepted for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (n=155). Intervention: Teleprehabilitation vs. Standard care. Primary outcome: Time to event for any cardiac symptom (p=0.529).

What does this research mean for the field?

Teleprehabilitation prior to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) does not significantly differ from standard care in time to worsening of any cardiac symptom, angina, or dyspnea, indicating it can be safely offered. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To explore the impact of teleprehabilitation on cardiac symptoms in patients scheduled for CABG.

May 21, 2026Open Access

Monitoring cardiac symptoms during teleprehabilitation prior to Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: a Digital Cardiac Counseling Trial Subanalysis

Key Result

Teleprehabilitation prior to CABG did not significantly differ from standard care in time to worsening of any cardiac symptom (p=0.529), angina (p=0.167), or dyspnea (p=0.334).

Key Points

To explore the impact of teleprehabilitation on cardiac symptoms in patients scheduled for CABG.
Included a subgroup of patients randomized to teleprehabilitation or standard care in the DCC-trial.
Patients had access to digital resources for exercise training, nutritional support, and psychological support.
Weekly telemonitoring was conducted for cardiac symptoms using a customized platform.
In 155 patients, there were no significant differences in major adverse cardiac events during the preoperative period.
21% of symptom monitoring entries indicated worsening cardiac symptoms, with no significant differences between groups (p=0.529 for any symptom).
No significant difference in time to event for angina (p=0.167) or dyspnea (p=0.334).

Study Design

Type

RCT (n=155)

Randomization

Randomized

Structured PICO

Does teleprehabilitation lead to worsening cardiac symptoms in patients accepted for CABG?

Population

155 patients accepted for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), including off-pump and minimally invasive.

Intervention

Teleprehabilitation (blended care supported by online modules, including nutritional support, functional exercise training, smoking cessation, inspiratory muscle training, and psychological support) with weekly telemonitoring for cardiac symptoms.

Comparator

Standard care with weekly telemonitoring for cardiac symptoms.

Outcome

Worsening of cardiac symptoms (time to event for any cardiac symptom, angina, or dyspnea) in the preoperative period.safety

Teleprehabilitation, including low-intensity physical training, does not lead to worsening cardiac symptoms prior to elective CABG and can be safely offered.

Main Result

p-value: p=0.529

Abstract

Abstract Aims The purpose of this subanalysis is to explore whether or not teleprehabilitation leads to worsening cardiac symptoms in patients accepted for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods A subgroup of patients accepted for CABG (including off-pump and minimally invasive) who were randomised between teleprehabilitation and standard care in DCC-trial were included. Prehabilitation patients had access to blended care supported by online modules, including nutritional support, functional exercise training, smoking cessation, inspiratory muscle training, and psychological support. All patients were weekly telemonitored for cardiac symptoms using a customized digital platform. Results This cohort included 155 patients. Baseline characteristics, including NYHA and CCS class, were balanced, except for shorter preoperative waiting times in weeks (15.0 9.8-22.2 versus 12.5 7.0-16.0) in the teleprehabilitation group. There was no significant difference in incidence of major adverse cardiac events in the preoperative period. There were 141 patients (77 control; 64 teleprehabilitation) with at least one symptom monitoring entry. A total of 373/1786 (21%) entries indicated worsening of cardiac symptoms. The distribution was right-skewed and did not significantly differ between both groups. There was no statistically significant difference in time to event between control and teleprehabilitation for any cardiac symptom (p = 0.529), angina (p = 0.167), or dyspnea (p = 0.334). Conclusion Teleprehabilitation does not lead to worsening cardiac symptoms prior to CABG. We postulate that teleprehabilitation, which includes low-intensity physical training, can be safely offered to patients undergoing elective CABG.