Objective
To prospectively compare the efficacy of conventional center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) and home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Methods
Ninety Patients were divided into HBCR and CBCR groups based on cardiovascular risk stratification and individual preference. The CBCR group performed supervised in-hospital exercise training 2–3 times/week and subsequent self-exercise at home. The HBCR group performed self-exercise at home after one or two sessions of exercise education. The cardiopulmonary exercise test results at baseline and those at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups were analyzed as primary outcome.
Results
The peak oxygen consumption (peak VO₂, mL/kg/min) in the CBCR group was 20.1 and 24.0 at baseline and 12 months, respectively, showing significant improvement (p=0.006). In the HBCR group, it only increased from 24.4 to 25.5, showing suboptimal improvement. A significant increase in the Korean activity scale/index was confirmed only in the CBCR group (p=0.04). The cardiovascular outcome did not differ between the two groups, nor did the dropout rate or demographic factors.
Conclusion
During the COVID-19 pandemic, only CBCR was associated with a significant improvement in peak VO₂ and physical activity levels, a finding that differs from those of other studies and seems to be affected by COVID-19. Therefore, in situations where the importance of HBCR is emphasized, it is essential to introduce measures to monitor and enhance exercise adherence among participants.

Citations

• Prognostic Factors for Responders of Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation—Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
  Chul Kim, Hee-Eun Choi, Chin Kook Rhee, Jae Ha Lee, Ju Hyun Oh, Jun Hyeong Song
  Healthcare.2025; 13(3): 308.     CrossRef

Objective
To assess the accuracy of recently commercialized wearable devices in heart rate (HR) measurement during cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) under gradual increase in exercise intensity, while wearable devices with HR monitors are reported to be less accurate in different exercise intensities.
Methods
CPX was performed for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Twelve lead electrocardiograph (ECG) was the gold standard and Apple watch 7 (AW7), Galaxy watch 4 (GW4) and Bio Patch Mobicare 200 (MC200) were applied for comparison. Paired absolute difference (PAD), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were evaluated for each device.
Results
Forty-four participants with CAD were included. All the devices showed MAPE under 2% and ICC above 0.9 in rest, exercise and recovery phases (MC200=0.999, GW4=0.997, AW7=0.998). When comparing exercise and recovery phase, PAD of MC200 and AW7 in recovery phase were significantly bigger than PAD of exercise phase (p<0.05). Although not significant, PAD of GW4 tended to be bigger in recovery phase, too. Also, when stratified by HR 20, ICC of all the devices were highest under HR of 100, and ICC decreased as HR increased. However, except for ICC of GW4 at HR above 160 (=0.867), all ICCs exceeded 0.9 indicating excellent accuracy.
Conclusion
The HR measurement of the devices validated in this study shows a high concordance with the ECG device, so CAD patients may benefit from the devices during high-intensity exercise under conditions where HR is measured reliably.

Citations

• Prognostic Factors for Responders of Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation—Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
  Chul Kim, Hee-Eun Choi, Chin Kook Rhee, Jae Ha Lee, Ju Hyun Oh, Jun Hyeong Song
  Healthcare.2025; 13(3): 308.     CrossRef
• Wearable Devices for Exercise Prescription and Physical Activity Monitoring in Patients with Various Cardiovascular Conditions
  Tasuku Terada, Matheus Hausen, Kimberley L. Way, Carley D. O’Neill, Isabela Roque Marçal, Paul Dorian, Jennifer L. Reed
  CJC Open.2025; 7(5): 695.     CrossRef
• Apple watch accuracy in monitoring health metrics: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Ju-Pil Choe, Minsoo Kang
  Physiological Measurement.2025; 46(4): 04TR01.     CrossRef
• Assessment of Samsung Galaxy Watch4 PPG-Based Heart Rate During Light-to-Vigorous Physical Activities
  Caíque Santos Lima, Felipe Capiteli Bertocco, José Igor Vasconcelos de Oliveira, Thiago Mattos Frota de Souza, Emely Pujólli da Silva, Fernando J. Von Zuben
  IEEE Sensors Letters.2024; 8(7): 1.     CrossRef
• The Accessibility and Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation in COVID-19 Pandemic Era
  Chul Kim, Jun Hyeong Song, Seung Hyoun Kim
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2024; 48(4): 249.     CrossRef
• The eTRIMP method for bodybuilding training load assessment: A review with a case study
  Fernandes Haniel
  Annals of Musculoskeletal Medicine.2023; 7(2): 016.     CrossRef
• Recommendations for Measurement of Bodybuilding Internal Training Load by eTRIMP Method
  Fernandes Haniel
  Journal of Sports Medicine and Therapy.2023; 8(4): 051.     CrossRef

Objective
To examine whether patients who participated in a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program after hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome maintained cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in the community.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective study including 78 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft surgery at our hospital’s cardiovascular center and participated in a CR program and a 5-year follow-up evaluation. Patients were divided into a center-based CR (CBCR) group, participating in an electrocardiography-monitored exercise training in a hospital setting, and a home-based CR (HBCR) group, receiving aerobic exercise training and performed self-exercise at home.
Results
No significant differences were found between groups (p>0.05), except the proportion of non-smokers (CBCR 59.5% vs. HBCR 31.7%; p=0.01). In both groups, the maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max) increased significantly during the first 12 weeks of follow-up and remained at a steady state for the first year, but it decreased after the 1-year follow-up. Particularly, VO_2max at 5 years decreased below the baseline value in the HBCR group. In the low CRF group, the CRF level significantly improved at 12 weeks, peaked at 1 year, and was still significantly different from the baseline value after 5 years. The high CRF group did not show any significant increase over time relative to the baseline value, but most patients in the high CRF group maintained relatively appropriate CRF levels after 5 years.
Conclusion
Continuous support should be provided to patients to maintain optimal CRF levels after completing a CR program.

Citations

• Change in exercise capacity, physical activity and motivation for physical activity at 12 months after a cardiac rehabilitation program in coronary heart disease patients: a prospective, monocentric and observational study
  Paul Da Ros Vettoretto, Anne-Armelle Bouffart, Youna Gourronc, Anne-Charlotte Baron, Marie Gaume, Florian Congnard, Bénédicte Noury-Desvaux, Pierre-Yves de Müllenheim
  PeerJ.2025; 13: e18885.     CrossRef
• The Accessibility and Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation in COVID-19 Pandemic Era
  Chul Kim, Jun Hyeong Song, Seung Hyoun Kim
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2024; 48(4): 249.     CrossRef
• The Effect of Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation on Cardiovascular Risk Factors Management
  Chul Kim, Seok Hyeon Lee
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2023; 47(4): 272.     CrossRef
• Fact Sheet on Cardiac Rehabilitation for Cardiovascular Disease in South Korea
  Ki-Hong Kim, Jae-Young Han
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2023; 47(5): 318.     CrossRef