The protocol allows working with patients remotely, monitoring activity measures accurately and in sequence 24/7 and enables health care providers to monitor cardiac rehabilitation patients at home at low cost. The program offers an alternative to regular cardiac rehabilitation. It's intended for a population that for various reasons cannot reach cardiac rehabilitation centers and allows remote arrhythmia and ischemia identification.
Cardiac rehabilitation has been proven to save lives after acute cardio events, however, it remains underutilized. The ability to monitor patients effectively while exercising at home would greatly extend the use of this life-saving therapy. We believe our method of using home monitoring using the health watch garment and advanced digital technology will allow much more widespread participation in cardiac rehabilitation.
It is important for coordinators to meet with patients in person during the first six weeks to explain the program step by step and to practice the exercises together. For the first six weeks, have the participants attend the facility two times per week for one hour, wearing the wrist band at all times, and the smart digital garment at predetermined times. Measure the participant's blood pressure before, during, and at the end of each exercise session, and have the participant warm up for five minutes before beginning each session.
At each session, have the participant bike for 10 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of walking on the treadmill, and five minutes paddling on a hand cycle, monitoring the heart rate using the electrocardiogram telemetry capabilities of the garment before, during, and after the proactive walking. At the end of the six-week facility-based rehabilitation period, have the participants work out at home for the next six weeks according to the instructions given in the app or digitally via chat or face to face with the coordinator. Have the participants wear the smart garment twice a week and transfer the electrocardiogram measurements before, during, and after performing the proactive walking.
Also have the participants send manual blood pressure measurements via the app taken before and after the proactive walking and confirm that the participants are taking their medications daily. The digital platform concept includes a program as well as the clinical staff and coaches. It is tailored to address the range of medical teams'needs concerning physical activity, behavioral health, medication, and nutrition via the application video and audio communication channels between patients and coaches.
A dashboard facilitates the collection and visualization of the raw and analyzed data, allowing changes in the participant's physiological signals such as blood pressure, heart rate activity levels, sugar, sleep, and nutrition data to be monitored. As the participant is under observation all day and as the coordinator is in regular contact with the participant, the coordinator can encourage the participant to continue keeping up their activity levels or check why there has been no activity by sending the patient daily to monthly graphic reports. The procedure requires patient preparation at the center, the patient to work independently, and the staff to communicate and help the patients assimilate the new habits.
Analysis of the data will enable researchers to better understand the contribution of cardiac rehabilitation to patient health and how physiological, clinical, and behavioral measures influence patients'rehabilitation. Patients'behavior is monitored via examining parameters, correlations, and through quality of life questionnaires to determine how the level of activity affects mood swings and how the patient performs at work.
