WeChat-Based Education and Rehabilitation Program Improves Physical Performance and Quality of Life in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

WeChat provides the chance for online caring program to improve physical recovery and quality of life (QoL) in patients with cardio/cerebral vascular diseases, especially in special period such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread time. This study intended to evaluate the influence of the WeChat-based education and rehabilitation program (WERP) on physical performance and QoL in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Totally, 180 patients with ACS after PCI were randomized to the WERP (N = 90) and control care (CC) (N = 90) groups, then received corresponding caring program for 3 months. Short physical performance battery (SPPB) score, 6-minute walking distance (6MWT), EuroQol-5 dimensions (EQ-5D) score, and EuroQol-5 Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) score were assessed at discharge, month (M)1, M2, and M3, respectively. Our study showed that SPPB score at M1 ( P = 0.029), M2 (P = 0.048), and M3 (P = 0.030) was higher in WERP group than in CC group. Besides, 6MWT at M1 (P = 0.026), M2 (P = 0.023), and M3 (P = 0.041) were longer in WERP group than in CC group. Finally, EQ-5D score at M1 (P = 0.022) and M3 (P = 0.023) was lower, while EQ-VAS score at M1 (P = 0.020), M2 (P = 0.013), and M3 (P = 0.039) was higher in WERP group than in CC group. Subgroup analyses further showed that patients with baseline SPPB score ≤ 9 benefited more from WERP. Conclusively, WERP could be an option to improve physical performance and QoL in patients with ACS after PCI.