Home-based cardiac telerehabilitation for adults with chronic heart failure
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Cardiac Telerehabilitation Program in Chronic Heart Failure
This program will test whether a home-based telerehabilitation course using wearable sensors and remote supervision helps adults with chronic heart failure improve their exercise capacity compared with standard in-hospital rehabilitation.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 205 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Salerno Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Salerno) |
| Trial ID | NCT07023536 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This prospective, single-center observational study compares adults with chronic heart failure who choose a home-based telerehabilitation program to those who opt for standard in-hospital cardiac rehabilitation. Both groups follow the same 8-week individualized aerobic exercise protocol guided by baseline cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). The telerehabilitation arm uses a certified telehealth platform with real-time videoconferencing and medical-grade wearables to monitor ECG, heart rate, blood pressure and SpO2 during sessions. Participants undergo assessments at baseline and at 4, 8, 16, and 24 weeks to measure VO2max, cardiac function, exercise tolerance, biomarkers, and quality of life.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (≥18) with chronic heart failure of at least six months' duration, NYHA class I–III, on stable medical therapy, able to perform exercise testing, and with sufficient digital literacy or caregiver support.
Not a fit: Patients with NYHA class IV heart failure, severe comorbidities limiting life expectancy, advanced renal failure (eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m²) or on dialysis, pregnancy, or those unable to use the required technology are unlikely to benefit from the home-based program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could let more patients safely improve fitness and quality of life from home while reducing the need for frequent hospital visits.
How similar studies have performed: Prior randomized and observational studies of cardiac telerehabilitation have often shown comparable improvements in exercise capacity and quality of life to center-based programs, although results vary by patient selection and technology used.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Diagnosis of chronic heart failure for at least 6 months, with stable optimal medical therapy for at least 1 month * New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I, II, or III * Hospitalization or outpatient visit requiring intravenous therapy (diuretics, vasodilators, or inotropes) within the past 12 months * Ability to provide informed consent or presence of a legal representative * Digital literacy of the patient and/or caregiver Exclusion Criteria: * Age \< 18 years * Pregnancy * NYHA class IV heart failure * Severe renal insufficiency (eGFR \<30 ml/min/1.73 m²) or on dialysis * Other serious illnesses significantly limiting life expectancy (e.g., end-stage cancer, advanced pulmonary disease)
Where this trial is running
Salerno
- Hospital University San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona — Salerno, Italy (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Alessia Bramanti, Electronic Engineering
- Email: abramanti@unisa.it
- Phone: +393483809181
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.