Telerehabilitation vs. Center-Based Rehab for Psychological Well-being After CABG

Psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression, is common after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and negatively affects recovery and quality of life. While center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) effectively addresses these issues, participation is often limited by barriers like travel, cost, and scheduling. Home-based telerehabilitation (HBTCR) offers a potential solution. This single-center, prospective, three-arm randomized controlled trial was designed to compare the effectiveness of HBTCR versus CBCR and usual care. A total of 110 clinically stable patients, 4-8 weeks post-CABG, were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to an HBTCR group, a CBCR group, or a control group. The intervention period was 12 weeks. The study hypothesized that the HBTCR program, which includes a personalized exercise plan, remote monitoring via a wearable device and mobile app, and weekly psychosocial support from a nurse, would be as effective as the traditional supervised in-person CBCR program in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression and improving health-related quality of life.