Renata Główczyńska

Telerehabilitation for heart failure (HF) patients is beneficial for physical functioning, prognosis, and psychological status. The study aimed at evaluating the influence of hybrid comprehensive telerehabilitation (HCTR) on the level of anxiety in comparison to usual care (UC). The TELEREH-HF study was a multicenter prospective RCT in 850 clinically stable HF participants. Patients underwent clinical examinations, including the assessment of anxiety, at entry and after the 9-week training program (HCTR) or observation (UC). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used. 20.3% HCTR and 20.1% UC patients reported high level of anxiety as a state at baseline, with higher STAI results in younger participants (< 63 y.o.) (p = .048 for HCTR; p = .026 for UC). At both stages of the study, patients with lower level of physical capacity (measured by a peak VO₂) had shown significantly higher level of anxiety. There were no significant changes in anxiety levels during the 9-week observation for the entire study population, although there were different patterns of change in anxiety (both trait and state) in younger and older groups,with the decrease in younger patients, and the increase—in the older group. Trial registry number NCT 02523560 (Clinical Trials.gov), date of registration: August 14, 2015.

(1) Background Adherence to treatment guidelines in heart failure (HF) patients is of major prognostic importance, but thorough implementation of guidelines in routine care remains insufficient. Introducing hybrid comprehensive telerehabilitation (HCTR) consisting of telecare, telerehabilitation, and remote monitoring of implantable devices might be an option to improve adherence to recommendation and can affect the prognosis. The purpose is to investigate the association of adherence to HCTR with mortality and hospitalization. (2) Methods This analysis formed part of TELEREH-HF multi-center, randomized trial that enrolled 850HF patients (NYHA I-III;LVEF ≤ 40%). Patients were randomized 1:1 to 9-week HCTR (1 week in hospital and 8 weeks at home) plus usual care or usual care only and followed-up for 14 to 26 months. This analysis focuses on the HCTR group. Adherent patients were those who adhered both to the number of training sessions prescribed and to the duration of the prescribed cycle by at least 80%; non-adherent patients were those who adheredp = 0.021); all-cause mortality or HF hospitalization (HR = 1.71, p = 0.038); CV mortality or HF hospitalization (HR = 1.89, p = 0.014). (4) Conclusions The adherence to HCTR was high. Adherence to HCTR was associated with improved prognosis for CV mortality and the reduction in the combined outcome of CV mortality or HF hospitalization.

Background: The impact of cardiac rehabilitation on the number of alerts in patients with remote monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is unknown. We compared alerts in RM and outcomes in patients with CIEDs undergoing hybrid comprehensive telerehabilitation (HCTR) versus usual care (UC). Methods: Patients with heart failure (HF) after a hospitalization due to worsening HF within the last 6 months (New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I-III and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%) were enrolled in the TELEREH-HF study and randomised 1:1 to HCTR or UC. Patients with HCTR and CIEDs received RM (HCTR-RM). Patients with UC and CIEDs were offered RM optionally (UC-RM). Data from the initial 9 weeks of the study were analysed. Results: Of 850 enrolled patients, 208 were in the HCTR-RM group and 62 in the UC-RM group. The HCTR-RM group was less likely to have alerts of intrathoracic impedance (TI) decrease (p < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (AF) occurrence (p = 0.031) and lower mean number of alerts per patient associated with TI decrease (p < 0.0001) and AF (p = 0.019) than the UC-RM group. HCTR significantly decreased the occurrence of alerts in RM of CIEDs, 0.360 (95%CI, 0.189–0.686; p = 0.002), in multivariable regression analysis. There were two deaths in the HCTR-RM group (0.96%) and no deaths in the UC-RM group (p = 1.0). There were no differences in the number of hospitalised patients between the HCTR-RM and UC-RM group (p = 1.0). Conclusions: HCTR significantly reduced the number of patients with RM alerts of CIEDs related to TI decrease and AF occurrence. There were no differences in mortality or hospitalisation rates between HCTR-RM and UC-RM groups.

Approximately 50% of heart failure patients are readmitted to hospital within 6 months, owing to deterioration of their condition. Thus, symptomatic treatment of heart failure requires significant improvement. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of torasemide and furosemide on biochemical parameters of haemodynamic and neurohormonal compensation, myocardial remodelling, clinical outcomes and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. This is a multicentre, randomized, open, blinded endpoint phase-IV trial. The study includes 120 heart failure patients in NYHA (New York Heart Association) functional class II–IV, treated with optimal heart failure therapy, with indications for use of loop diuretics. At enrolment, patients are stable, with a fixed dose of loop diuretics. Patients are randomized to treatment with furosemide or torasemide (randomization 1:1). After randomization, the current fixed dose of furosemide is continued or is replaced by an equipotential dose of torasemide (4:1). The study consists of two control visits (3 and 6 months after enrolment) with minimal follow-up of 6 months. Assessment involves clinical examination, Quality of Life Questionnaire, laboratory tests, echocardiography, electrocardiography, 24 h Holter-electrocardiography monitoring, 6 -min walk test and assessment of fluid retention. Any need for dose adjustment is assessed during the observation. The primary objective is to compare the effects of torasemide and furosemide on clinical and biochemical parameters of haemodynamic and neurohormonal compensation and myocardial remodelling. Secondary objectives include monitoring of: changes in signs and symptoms of heart failure, NYHA functional class, quality of life, dosage changes, rate of readmissions and mortality. Despite decades of the diuretic’s history, knowledge about diuretic therapy is still unsatisfactory. The most widely used diuretic, furosemide, has a stormy pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and is associated with a high risk of mortality and hospitalization for worsening heart failure. Reports are very encouraging and suggest beneficial effects of torasemide. Hence, there is a need for further studies of the overall effect of torasemide, compared with furosemide. This can translate into improved quality of life and better prognosis of patients with heart failure. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01942109 . Registered on 24 August 2013.