JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Digital interventions are promising additions to usual care but also in the realm of rehabilitation. Evidence and studies for the latter, however, are still rare.

Objective:

The aim of the study was to examine the app/web-based patient education program “old: Vision 2 – Gesundes Herz; now: mebix” regarding its effectiveness in relation to the parameters of disease-specific quality of life (HeartQol), cardiovascular risk profile (CARRISMA) and prognostic estimation of early retirement (Screening instrument work and occupation; SIBAR) in n = 190 participants of a cardiological rehabilitation clinic.

Methods:

The data collection took place at the end of an inpatient rehabilitation (t0),6 months (t1) and 12 months (t2) after the end of rehabilitation. Analyses of variance and are used to assess the overall significance of difference in outcome parameters between groups and over time.

Results:

The primary endpoint of disease-related quality of life shows a significant improvement over the course of the intervention that is more pronounced in the intervention group. Similarly, the 10-year risk of cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction show significantly improvements in the cardiovascular risk profile over time and between groups indicating better results in the intervention group. Positive effect on secondary outcomes like body weight, blood pressure and number of smokers only showed time effects indicating no difference between the groups. The SIBAR was significantly lower/better at the end of the observation period than at the beginning of the observation for both groups as well.

Conclusions:

Overall, the digital training program represents an effective follow-up offer after rehabilitation that could be incorporated into standard care to further improve the disease-related quality of life, and cardiovascular risk profiles. Clinical Trial: DRKS00007569