Effectiveness of Remote Cardiac Rehab After Surgery for Acquired Heart Valve Disease

This is a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind interventional study. We conduct the study on patients aged 18 years and older diagnosed with acquired heart valve diseases who have an indication for valve repair or replacement surgery at the Cardiovascular Center - Hanoi Medical University Hospital. All patients participating in the study receive inpatient cardiac rehabilitation during the acute phase (1 week) and early recovery phase (1 week) at the hospital. Before discharge, patients are randomly assigned by dice rolling into the intervention or control group, with a minimum of 22 patients in each group. The control group continues supervised outpatient rehabilitation at the hospital, three sessions per week for the following month. The intervention group undergoes home-based rehabilitation and self-monitors their hemodynamic parameters using a personal blood pressure monitor and a handheld pulse oximeter. Before and after each training session, patients send images of their vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, SpO₂) to the physician via the Open TeleRehab platform. The physician immediately provides feedback if adjustments to the exercise session (intensity, duration, type) are necessary. Every Saturday, physicians and patients conduct a group meeting via the Open TeleRehab platform to discuss any issues arising during the training sessions (approximately 30 minutes). Exercise capacity assessments for both groups are performed at baseline (pre-surgery), after acute phase rehabilitation, before discharge, and one month post-discharge. Evaluation parameters include: 6-minute walk distance, 2-minute step test, and peak oxygen uptake (VO₂ peak) measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Cardiac rehabilitation interventions are conducted following the 2021 guidelines of the Japanese Circulation Society.