Remote Exercise SWEDEHEARTHot Line 5Digital Health
Cardiac Telerehabilitation in a Cluster Randomised Cross-Over Trial
Cardiac telerehabilitation: a cluster randomised cross-over trial
Presenting authorMaria BäckGeneral / Preventive / Lipids · Sahlgrenska University HospitalMaria Bäck is an adjunct professor of physiotherapy at Linköping University and a licensed physiotherapist at the exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation unit of Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. She holds a PhD from the University of Gothenburg (2012) and is a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology. Her research focuses on physical activity, exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation, telerehabilitation, and secondary prevention in patients with cardiovascular disease.
Overview
Awaiting ESC 2026 results before adopting telerehabilitation; RCT will extend evidence on remote cardiac rehabilitation access.
Key result
Cardiac telerehabilitation outcomes from this cluster randomised cross-over trial are currently pending presentation at the ESC Congress 2026.
Discussion
Expert reaction lands here the moment Remote Exercise SWEDEHEART reports.
Expert takes
The Remote Exercise SWEDEHEART study is a multicenter registry-based cluster randomized crossover trial evaluating whether remotely delivered exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (EBCR), offered as an alternative to center-based EBCR, can increase participation among myocardial infarction patients. Despite strong evidence for exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation, only about 20% of MI patients in Sweden complete such programs. The source material contains limited direct quotes about this trial, consisting mainly of background commentary from the lead investigator and the design paper, with no editorials, outside expert reactions, or conference commentary found.
Maria Bäck
Specialist physiotherapist, Sahlgrenska University Hospital
“Enligt det svenska kvalitetsregistret SWEDEHEART är det bara ca 20% av patienter med hjärtinfarkt som genomför ett fysioterapeutlett träningsprogram inom hjärtrehabilitering. Frågan är om det ens hade accepterats om motsvarande låga siffra hade uppmätts för till exempel förhöjda blodtryck?”
TG
Tomasz Guzik
Chair, ESC Congress Program Committee
“This year, ESC Congress received a record number of submissions of late-breaking clinical trials, reflecting the remarkable pace of innovation across cardiology. We rigorously selected the studies with the greatest scientific quality and potential clinical impact.”
Key Points
- Cardiac telerehabilitation is evaluated within a cluster randomised cross-over trial design to establish the feasibility of remote recovery.
- Late-breaking trial data presented at ESC Congress 2026 evaluate cardiac telerehabilitation protocols, with definitive study results pending.
- Telerehabilitation may broaden access to structured cardiac rehabilitation programs, supporting home-based secondary prevention strategies.
Main Result
Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%