Effects of Telerehabilitation Interventions on Heart Failure Management (2015-2020): Scoping Review.
Cathrine Skov Schacksen, Nanna Celina Henneberg, Janusiya Anajan Muthulingam and 11 others
PMID 34723827WHAT IT FOUND
Telerehabilitation for heart failure patients often improves quality of life and physical capacity compared to standard care.
It also shows high adherence. However, evidence for reducing depression and anxiety is mixed, with some studies showing no significant benefit.
Key findings
01Most studies reported that telerehabilitation improved quality of life and physical capacity in heart failure patients compared to conventional care.
02Adherence to telerehabilitation programs was high in all studies that measured it, and often higher than in standard care groups.
03Results for mental health outcomes were inconsistent, with some studies showing reduced depression and anxiety while others found no significant improvement.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The studies included were highly heterogeneous in terms of intervention duration, technology, and outcome measures, making direct comparisons difficult. There is no consensus on the optimal outcome measures for telerehabilitation, leading to varied reporting across studies. Some included articles were reviews that covered the same primary studies, potentially double-counting evidence. The review did not extensively analyze the component of patient education, which was often part of the interventions but not isolated as a variable. Mental health outcomes (depression and anxiety) were measured in only a subset of the studies, limiting conclusions in this area.
Declared interests
Four authors (TK, TT, NK, and HD) are affiliated with a department sponsored by Philips, Asahi Kasei, Toho Holdings, and InterReha, which are companies involved in medical technology and rehabilitation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume telerehabilitation is a guaranteed treatment for depression or anxiety in heart failure patients. While quality of life and physical capacity generally improved, the evidence for mental health benefits was inconsistent, with some studies showing no significant reduction in symptoms.