Improving Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Using Target Heart Rate Trial

Launched by BAYSTATE MEDICAL CENTER · Jun 22, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called the Improving Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Using Target Heart Rate Trial, is studying two different ways to help older adults (60 years and older) with heart disease improve their exercise during rehabilitation. The researchers want to find out which method works better: one that uses a personalized heart rate target based on a graded exercise test, or another that relies on how hard participants feel they are working during exercise. They are also looking at how psychological support might help people stay active both during and after their rehabilitation sessions.

To be eligible for this study, participants must have had a heart-related event, such as a heart attack or surgery, in the last six months and live in the Springfield, MA or Detroit, MI areas. Those who join will complete surveys about their exercise habits and feelings about working out, take various fitness tests, and attend at least 18 rehabilitation sessions. Each person will randomly be assigned to one of the two exercise groups. This study is important because it hopes to improve recovery for many older adults with heart conditions by finding the best way to support their exercise needs.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients who are eligible for cardiac rehabilitation by having had a cardiac event such as a myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure, percutaneous coronary intervention or angioplasty with stent, coronary artery bypass graft, or heart valve surgery in the past 6 months.
• • Lives in, or plans to reside in, the Springfield, MA, or greater Detroit, MI, area for the next year.
• • Recruited from a Phase 2 Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at either Baystate Medical Center or Henry Ford Health System.
• • Age ≥ 60 years
• • Agrees to attend at least 18 sessions of cardiac rehabilitation after randomization
• • Agrees to attend cardiac rehabilitation at least twice a week
• • Exclusion Criteria: These include conditions that alter the physiology and monitoring of resting and exercise heart rate. These also include conditions that might limit an individual's ability to exercise.
• • Permanent atrial fibrillation
• • Heart transplant
• • Left-ventricular assist devices
• • Stable angina
• • High-risk un-revascularized coronary artery disease
• • Symptomatic peripheral artery disease
• • Aortic and/or mitral stenosis
• • Any condition where exercise testing or training might be unsafe or limited