Effectiveness of home-based cardiac telerehabilitation programs in improving clinical outcomes after PCI: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized studies

: Background Home-Based Cardiac Telerehabilitation (HBCTR) is a potential alternative to center-based programs, but its effectiveness remains unclear. This meta-analysis evaluated the impact of this treatment on clinical outcomes and patient-reported quality of life (QoL). Methods We searched Cochrane Central, Google Scholar, and PubMed until September 1, 2025, for studies evaluating HBCTR versus usual care. The primary clinical outcomes were 6 minute walk test (6 MWT), VO 2 max, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Outcomes were pooled as mean differences (MD), standardized mean differences (SMD) for QoL, and risk ratios (RR) for binary data using RevMan 5.4.1 (random-effects). Quality assessment was performed using the ROB-2 scale, and publication bias was analyzed using funnel plots. Results Twelve studies comprising 1,392 patients were included. HBCTR significantly improved 6MWT distance (MD: 18.76; 95% CI: 10.35–27.18; p<0.0001), VO 2 max (MD: 3.53; 95% CI: 2.42–4.65; p<0.00001), and LVEF (MD: 2.03; 95% CI: 0.15–3.91; p=0.03). Significant reductions were observed in systolic blood pressure (MD: –3.09 mmHg; 95% CI: –5.50 to –0.69; p=0.01), alongside improved medication adherence (RR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.08–1.43; p=0.002). QoL outcomes showed small and inconsistent improvements, while lipid parameters, anxiety, and depression demonstrated no consistent benefit. Conclusion Compared to usual care, HBCTR improved functional capacity, systolic BP, VO 2 max, LVEF, and adherence, while mental health and lipid outcomes remained inconclusive.