Short- and long-term effects of the patient education strategy-learning and coping-in cardiac rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial (LC-REHAB).

The objectives were to assess the short- and long-term effect of the patient education strategy 'Learning and Coping' (LC) in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on health-related quality of life, patient education impact, cardiac risk factors and lifestyle. In total, 825 patients hospitalized with ischaemic heart disease or heart failure were randomized to either LC-CR or standard CR at three Danish hospitals. Teaching approach in LC-CR was situational, inductive and reflective, with experienced patients as co-educators and supplemental interviews.

Impact of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in patients with heart failure (ExTraMATCH II) on mortality and hospitalisation: an individual patient data meta-analysis of randomised trials.

Aims: To undertake an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis to assess the impact of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (ExCR) in patients with heart failure (HF) on mortality and hospitalisation, and differential effects of ExCR according to patient characteristics: age, sex, ethnicity, New York Heart Association functional class, ischaemic aetiology, ejection fraction, and exercise capacity.

Methods And Results: Randomised trials of exercise training for at least 3 weeks compared with no exercise control with 6-month follow-up or longer, providing IPD time to event on mortality or hospitalisation (all-cause or HF-specific). IPD were combined into a single dataset.

Validation of Exercise Capacity as a Surrogate Endpoint in Exercise-Based Rehabilitation for Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objectives: This study sought to validate exercise capacity (EC) as a surrogate for mortality, hospitalization, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Background: EC is often used as a primary outcome in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) trials of heart failure (HF) via direct cardiorespiratory assessment of maximum oxygen uptake (Vopeak) or through submaximal tests, such as the 6-min walk test (6MWT).

Methods: After a systematic review, 31 randomized trials of exercise-based CR compared with no exercise control (4,784 HF patients) were included.

The association between supportive relatives and lower occurrence of anxiety and depression in heart patients: Results from a nationwide survey.

Background: Approximately 30-40% of heart patients develop anxiety and/or depression, which might influence recovery and long-term survival. Research has suggested that support from relatives may decrease anxiety and depression among heart patients; however, the results are inconsistent and often based on small study populations.

Aim: The paper aimed to investigate the association between having supportive relatives and the occurrence of anxiety and depression in heart patients.

The patient education - Learning and Coping Strategies - improves adherence in cardiac rehabilitation (LC-REHAB): A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Despite proven benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), adherence to CR remains suboptimal. This trial aimed to assess the impact of the patient education 'Learning and Coping Strategies' (LC) on patient adherence to an eight-week CR program.

Methods: 825 patients with ischaemic heart disease or heart failure were open label randomised to either the LC arm (LC plus CR) or the control arm (CR alone) across three hospital units in Denmark.