Digital Remote Phase-II Cardiac Rehabilitation After Valvular Surgery

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

A software-driven remote cardiac rehabilitation program significantly improved functional capacity as measured by 6-minute walk distance (mean change 243.17 vs 112.15) and quality of life compared to usual care following valvular surgery.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Population: Valvular heart disease (n=60). Intervention: Software-driven digital remote phase-2 cardiac rehabilitation vs. Usual care. Primary outcome: Change in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) over 12 weeks (p=<0.001).

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a remote, software-based phase-2 cardiac rehabilitation program on functional capacity and health-related quality of life after valvular heart surgery.

Mariya Prakash Jiandani; Vijaya Bhurke; Ayesha Shaikh; Chetan H. Gharat

doi:10.1016/j.jacasi.2026.07.005

August 20, 2026JACC AsiaOpen Access

Digital Remote Phase-II Cardiac Rehabilitation After Valvular Surgery

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key result

Remote cardiac rehab boosts post-valve surgery 6-minute walk distance by ~131 meters over usual care.

P<0.001
n=60

Figures

Why the study?

Does a digital remote Phase-II cardiac rehabilitation program improve functional capacity and quality of life in adult patients recovering from valvular heart surgery compared to usual care?

Key Points

To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a remote, software-based phase-2 cardiac rehabilitation program on functional capacity and health-related quality of life after valvular heart surgery.
Conducted a single-center, parallel-group, quasi-experimental comparative study over 12 weeks at a cardiovascular and thoracic surgery outpatient clinic in India (CTRI/2024/06/068,230).
Enrolled 60 adults aged 18 to 60 years undergoing elective valvular surgery, comparing group A (12-week software-driven digital intervention with app education, step tracking, and weekly teleconsultations, n=28 completed) against group B (standard usual postoperative care, n=30 completed).
Assessed primary outcomes of 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D) scores, alongside secondary adherence and feasibility measures.
Group A achieved significantly greater improvements in 6MWD with a mean change of 243.17 minutes (95% CI: 217.56-268.78; P < 0.001) compared to 112.15 minutes (95% CI: 97.22-127.08; P < 0.001) in group B (repeated measures ANOVA P < 0.001).
Perceived health status improved in both arms, with group A demonstrating a superior mean increase in EQ-5D visual analogue scale scores (Δ = 31.50 vs Δ = 15.50; both P < 0.001; repeated measures ANOVA P < 0.001).
Physical activity adherence was markedly higher in group A, increasing by 89.6% (from 230.00 [81.85] to 435.89 [172.41] minutes/week) versus 53.7% in group B (from 206.67 [63.22] to 317.67 [78.82] minutes/week), with 100% of group A exercising at least 3 times/week versus 6.67% in group B.

Structured PICO

Does a digital remote Phase-II cardiac rehabilitation program improve functional capacity and quality of life in adult patients recovering from valvular heart surgery compared to usual care?

P

Population

60 adults aged 18 to 60 years undergoing elective valvular surgery, followed for 12 weeks to assess a remote phase-II cardiac rehabilitation program.

I

Intervention

Remote Phase-II Cardiac Rehabilitation (RCR) program over 12 weeks: a structured software-driven digital intervention based on the FITT principle, including individualized exercise prescription, education, relaxation training delivered via an app, step tracking via Google Fit, and weekly videoconferencing/telephonic consultations.

C

Comparator

Usual care: standard postoperative care with general advice on activity, diet, medications, and follow-up, without a structured or supervised exercise program.

O

Outcome

Changes in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D) quality of life scores over 12 weeks.patient reported

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 243.17% vs 112.15%

p-value: p=<0.001

Limitations

Requirement for smartphone access and digital literacy, which may introduce selection bias
Short follow-up period
Secondary outcomes were exploratory and not powered for statistical testing, limiting interpretability
Secondary outcomes were exploratory and not powered for statistical testing

Implication

A software-driven remote cardiac rehabilitation program significantly improves functional capacity, quality of life, and physical activity adherence compared to usual care in patients following valvular heart surgery.

Abstract

No abstract yet. The journal hasn't published one we can show.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Jiandani et al. (2026) studied Valvular heart disease (n=60). Software-driven digital remote phase-2 cardiac rehabilitation vs. Usual care was evaluated on Change in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) over 12 weeks (p=<0.001). A software-driven remote cardiac rehabilitation program significantly improved functional capacity as measured by 6-minute walk distance (mean change 243.17 vs 112.15) and quality of life compared to usual care following valvular surgery.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ad115a100741cc3fba7d6d9 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacasi.2026.07.005

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Digital Remote Phase-II Cardiac Rehabilitation After Valvular Surgery

Figures

Key Points

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Digital Remote Phase-II Cardiac Rehabilitation After Valvular Surgery

Figures

Key Points

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

More related papers

More from JACC Asia

Keep reading

More related papers

More from JACC Asia