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Background Innovative restructuring of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) delivery remains critical to reduce barriers and improve access to diverse populations. Destination Cardiac Rehab is a novel virtual world technology‐based CR program delivered through the virtual world platform, Second Life, which previously demonstrated high acceptability as an extension of traditional center‐based CR. This study aims to evaluate efficacy and adherence of the virtual world–based CR program compared with center‐based CR within a community‐informed, implementation science framework. Methods Using a noninferiority, hybrid type 1 effectiveness‐implementation, randomized controlled trial, 150 patients with an eligible cardiovascular event will be recruited from 6 geographically diverse CR centers across the United States. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to either the 12‐week Destination Cardiac Rehab or the center‐based CR control groups. The primary efficacy outcome is a composite cardiovascular health score based on the American Heart Association Life's Essential 8 at 3 and 6 months. Adherence outcomes include CR session attendance and participation in exercise sessions. A diverse patient/caregiver/stakeholder advisory board was assembled to guide recruitment, implementation, and dissemination plans and to contextualize study findings. The institutional review board–approved randomized controlled trial will enroll and randomize patients to the intervention (or control group) in 3 consecutive waves/year over 3 years. The results will be published at data collection and analyses completion. Conclusions The Destination Cardiac Rehab randomized controlled trial tests an innovative and potentially scalable model to enhance CR participation and advance health equity. Our findings will inform the use of effective virtual CR programs to expand equitable access to diverse patient populations. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT05897710.

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Falls are the leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality among older adults in the United States, including those with cardiovascular disease. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) helps to optimize functional capacity, strength, and balance in patients with cardiovascular disease and, in theory, may reduce the risk of falls. However, little evidence has been published in this regard. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the association between CR participation and risk of falls in a community-based sample of individuals 65 years of age and older with cardiovascular disease who were eligible for CR participation. Methods Individuals from Southeastern MN and Western WI, USA, 65 years of age and older who had experienced a cardiovascular event that qualified them for CR (MI, PCI, CABG, Valve Surgery, Transplant) between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2018, were included in this study. Participation in CR (≥1 sessions, CR-group) and subsequent falls (moderate or severe, using the Campbell classification system) were ascertained using the Rochester Epidemiology Project records-linkage system. Logistic model to create propensity weighting were used to test the association between CR participation and falls after adjustment for potentially confounding factors. Results A total of 5004 individuals met inclusion criteria for the study, with 2183 (44%) included in the CR group and 2821 (56%) in the non-CR group (CR was indicated, but the individual did not participate). Overall, 1122 patients experienced a fall within the first 5 years (16% of those in the CR-group, 23% of those in the non-CR group). After adjustment, CR participation was not associated with falls, but older individuals, females, and those with a history of falls were more likely to have had a fall, compared to young individuals, males, and those without a history of a fall. Conclusions While CR is beneficial for patients with cardiovascular disease, our study did not find evidence of an association between CR participation and fall risk in individuals 65 years of age and older who have cardiovascular disease. Additional research is needed to evaluate the role of CR components that may potentially reduce modifiable risk factors for falls and thereby reduce the risk of falls.

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a key component in the continuum of care for patients with CVD that reduces mortality, morbidity and rehospitalization. Clinical practice guidelines strongly recommend and encourage CR participation for eligible patients with CVD. Although there are multiple studies on barriers and solutions to improve the initiation rates of CR, a limited number of studies have explored the barriers and solutions to increase the degree of adherence to CR. Purpose The aim of this study was to define those characteristics that predict adherence to CR with special focus on women and employed patients, since these groups are generally understudied. Methods We performed a retrospective electronic medical record review of the Mayo Clinic CR program, Rochester to identify patients who had started the Mayo Clinic program between January 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015. Among patients who met the inclusion criteria, we conducted a telephone survey with the aim of defining barriers to participation and possible solutions proposed by patients to increase CR adherence. The survey included factors previously identified in the literature as possible barriers, as well as other hypothetical factors; including closed and open-ended questions. The study was approved by the Mayo Clinic institutional review board. Results 376 patients met the inclusion criteria. 257 patients completed the survey. 240 (63.8%) returned the HIPAA (Health Information Use Authorization) document. 72 (30%) were women with a mean age of 66.4 ±12.4 years. Forty-seven percent (n = 113) of the participants did not complete the recommended course of 36 sessions of CR. Among the most important barriers, we found that schedule conflicts were more frequently noted to be a barrier to CR participation among employed patients compared to non-employed patients (p=0.04). Lack of motivation and an inadequate awareness of the importance of completing CR were significantly reported as barriers from employed and non-employed patients. Among the proposed solutions, the participants suggested the potential benefit of alternative delivery models for CR programs; as well efforts to improve awareness of the importance of CR adherence among patients and professionals. Conclusions This study has great relevance because it addressed barriers and potential solutions to CR adherence. Barriers such as mental stress and motivation, as well as a lack of knowledge about CR benefits highlight the role of patient counseling and education as keys to help improve CR adherence. Alternative CR delivery models are attractive options to help facilitate participation, with special focus on the employed population and women, as they more frequently report logistical barriers to CR compared to non-employed patients and men. Further research and advocacy work are needed to help identify and implement strategies that address barriers to CR adherence and completion.

Background: The role of minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production ( / CO2) slope, a ventilation efficiency marker, in predicting short-term and long-term health outcomes for patients with nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing lung resection has not been well investigated. Material and Methods: This prospective cohort study consecutively enrolled NSCLC patients who underwent a presurgical cardiopulmonary exercise test from November 2014 to December 2019. The association of / CO2 slope with relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and perioperative mortality was evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards and logistic models. Covariates were adjusted using propensity score overlap weighting. The optimal cut-off point of the E/ CO2 slope was estimated using the receiver operating characteristics curve. Internal validation was completed through bootstrap resampling. Results: A cohort of 895 patients [median age (interquartile range), 59 (13) years; 62.5% male] was followed for a median of 40 (range, 1–85) months. Throughout the study, there were 247 relapses or deaths and 156 perioperative complications. The incidence rates per 1000 person-years for relapses or deaths were 108.8 and 79.6 among patients with high and low E/ CO2 slopes, respectively [weighted incidence rate difference per 1000 person-years, 29.21 (95% CI, 7.30–51.12)]. A E/ CO2 slope of greater than or equal to 31 was associated with shorter RFS [hazard ratio for relapse or death, 1.38 (95% CI, 1.02–1.88), P=0.04] and poorer OS [hazard ratio for death, 1.69 (1.15–2.48), P=0.02] compared to a lower / CO2 slope. A high E/ CO2 slope increased the risk of perioperative morbidity compared with a low E/ CO2 slope [odds ratio, 2.32 (1.54–3.49), P<0.001]. Conclusions: In patients with operable NSCLC, a high E/ CO2 slope was significantly associated with elevated risks of poorer RFS, OS, and perioperative morbidity.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a guideline-recommended, multidisciplinary program of exercise training, risk factor management, and psychosocial counseling for people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) that is beneficial but underused and with substantial disparities in referral, access, and participation. The emergence of new virtual and remote delivery models has the potential to improve access to and participation in CR and ultimately improve outcomes for people with CVD. Although data suggest that new delivery models for CR have safety and efficacy similar to traditional in-person CR, questions remain regarding which participants are most likely to benefit from these models, how and where such programs should be delivered, and their effect on outcomes in diverse populations. In this review, we describe important gaps in evidence, identify relevant research questions, and propose strategies for addressing them. We highlight 4 research priorities: (1) including diverse populations in all CR research; (2) leveraging implementation methodologies to enhance equitable delivery of CR; (3) clarifying which populations are most likely to benefit from virtual and remote CR; and (4) comparing traditional in-person CR with virtual and remote CR in diverse populations using multicenter studies of important clinical, psychosocial, and cost-effectiveness outcomes that are relevant to patients, caregivers, providers, health systems, and payors. By framing these important questions, we hope to advance toward a goal of delivering high-quality CR to as many people as possible to improve outcomes in those with CVD.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a class Ia recommendation and endorsed performance measure for the quality of care in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) survivors. While participation in CR after AMI is associated with reduced mortality, conflicting data exists on its association with health status outcomes. Methods: Using data from 2 prospective AMI registries (TRIUMPH and PREMIER), we identified patients for whom baseline and follow-up health status scores and documentation of CR participation (attendance of 1 or more sessions within 6 months post-AMI) were available. Health status was assessed by four Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) domain scores (quality of life [QoL], angina frequency [AF], treatment satisfaction [TS], and physical limitation [PL]), as well as SF-12 physical and mental health composite scores ( PCS & MCS ). We created propensity matched cohorts of CR participants and non-participants to examine the association between CR participation with health status (6 and 12 months) and all-cause mortality (up to 7 years), using conditional repeated measures and proportional hazards models, respectively. Results: Among 3,957 AMI patients from 31 sites, 2,015 patients (51%) participated in CR after discharge. Compared to non-participants, CR participants were more often Caucasian (83.6% vs. 65.4%), had higher rates of health insurance (90.6% vs. 79.3%), but clinically similar baseline SAQ and SF-12 scores in all domains. After propensity matching, all covariates were well-balanced (Standardized Difference <10 for all patient characteristics) between CR participants and non-participants. In the repeated measures analysis, the mean SAQ and SF-12 domain scores were clinically similar for both groups at 6 and 12 months after hospital discharge (Table). Using a conditional proportional hazards model, a decrease in all-cause mortality was noted in the CR participant group (HR 0.59, 95% CI [0.46, 0.75]). Conclusion: In a large, multi-center AMI cohort, we found that although CR participation seemed to improve survival, CR participants had similar health status improvements after AMI as non-participants. Further investigation is required to identify how CR programs can further maximize the health status benefits to post-AMI participants.

Objective We studied the effect of a lifestyle therapy program using the resources already available in a cardiac rehabilitation setting for patients at risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods We created a six-week cardiometabolic program (CMP) using facilities and resources of a cardiac rehabilitation setting. The CMP included a minimum of 6 once-a-week 60 min sessions consisting of exercise training and nutrition instruction, in addition to 6 once-a-week 60 min group behavioral modification classes following the LEARN program. We also assessed the outcomes in 239 patients (pts) who had at either obesity or hyperglycemia: 58 pts had enrolled and completed the CMP, 58 pts had signed up for the CMP but either never attended or dropped out early (Control 1) and had follow-up data, and 123 pts had not signed up for the CMP but had been seen in the outpatient preventive cardiology practice at the Mayo Clinic (Control 2). We compared changes in components of the MetS from baseline to six weeks (for the CMP group) and at 6 months for all pts. Results Of 187 people who signed up for the CMP, only 62 completed the program and from those, 58 gave authorization to use their clinical data in research. Of the 125 that never attended or dropped out early, 58 had follow-up data. Clinical characteristics of the CMP, Control 1, and Control 2 groups and improvement in each of the outcome measures are shown in the Table. In the CMP group, there was a significant improvement at 6 weeks in waist circumference, weight, diastolic blood pressure and total cholesterol. At 6 months the fasting glucose had also significantly improved. In contrast, improvements in Control 1 and Control 2 were modest at best. See Table. When comparing the 6 month changes in the CMP and Control 1, those in the CMP had more pronounced weight loss (-4.5±5 kg vs -0.14±6 kg, p<0.001); decrease in systolic blood pressure (-1.1±17 mmHg vs +9.6±20 mmHg, p=0.004); and decrease in diastolic blood pressure (-4.6±11 mmHg vs +3.4±15 mmHg, p=0.0017). Similarly, comparing CMP vs Control 2, a significantly greater drop in body weight (-4.5±5 kg vs -0.9±3 kg, p<0.001) and in diastolic blood pressure (-4.6±11 mmHg vs -0.7±9 mmHg, p=0.0202) was noted in the CMP. The change in the number of MetS components per patient dropped significantly, favoring the CMP group compared with the control groups. Conclusion A lifestyle therapy program for patients at risk for MetS can be implemented using existing resources of a cardiac rehabilitation program, although enrollment and completion rates are low. Such a program, however, is effective at improving cardiometabolic outcomes in individuals at risk for MetS.

Background: Physical activity (PA) prevents cardiovascular (CV) disease and maintains health. It is unclear which factors predict the adoption or maintenance of PA at a worksite wellness center. Methods: To assess the predictors of increase in PA we conducted a retrospective study on 7237 adults attending a worksite wellness center between September 2008 and October 2011. Upon joining the wellness center, participants completed an electronic or paper survey that assessed for the presence of CV risk factors, height, weight, self-perceived health behaviors and psychosocial factors using eleven validated 0-10 point scale. We included 1927 participants who completed the standard survey at the time of enrollment and at 12 months (+/- 90 days). For logistic regression analysis PA increase at 12 months was defined as an increase of ≥2 points of self-reported PA, on a 0 to 10 point scale, or maintenance of a high level of PA at follow up (FU). Results: Mean (SD) age was 38 (11) yr., BMI was 26.93 (6.06) kg/m 2 and 32% were men. From the study sample, 717 (37%) participants increased their PA level or maintained a high level of PA at FU. When comparing people who increased or maintained a high level of PA with the group without improvement or a decline in PA, there were differences in age and BMI: age [39 (11) vs. 38 (11) yr.; p=0.04] and BMI [27.37 (5.92) vs. 26.68 (5.92) kg/m 2 ; p=0.024]. The Table reports the results of the multivariate logistic regression model. While CV risk factors (tobacco use, hyperglycemia/diabetes mellitus, and high blood cholesterol), perceived stress level and self-perception of being overweight were not significant predictors of increase PA, low muscular strength and flexibility and interactions with close friends were significantly associated with PA. Conclusion: A significant proportion of people, over one-third, enrolled in a wellness center increase their PA level or maintain high levels of PA at 12 months after enrollment. Increasing age and BMI, and a measure of social support; interaction with close friends, and perceived muscular strength and flexibility, predict increase in PA. Presence of CV risk factors do not predict increase in PA. Tailoring programs to address these domains may help younger, less fit, and those with less social support improve their PA level.

Introduction: Patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation (CR) exhibit various degrees of illness severity and high prevalence of chronic conditions (CC). Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a key predictor of outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. Participation in CR is associated with increased CRF, reduced future cardiovascular events, and mortality. Peak oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) is the gold-standard method to evaluate CRF; however, the burden of multimorbidity and its impact on CRF improvement has not been extensively studied. Methods: We included 618 patients who were ≥ 18 years old and underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing prior to and after CR at Mayo Clinic. Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project records- linkage system, we assessed the prevalence of 18 CC defined by the US Department of Health and Human Services. To evaluate changes in peak VO 2 in patients with multimorbidity (categorized as ≥6 CC), we created logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, and baseline peak VO 2 . Results: Mean age was 61.5 ± 11.0 years and 75.5% were male. Most patients (81.2%) attended ≥18 CR sessions. Half (50.4%) of patients had at least 6 CC (median 6; range 0-13). Overall, peak VO 2 at baseline was 20.7 ± 6.3 mL/kg per min and the percent change in peak VO 2 following CR was 11.4% ± 21.6%, Figure 1A . Multimorbidity was associated with lower improvement in peak VO 2 following CR compared to patients with <6 CC (7.5% vs 11.4%, p=0.0001). Furthermore, across categories of CRF improvement (i.e., 1%, 5%, and 10% percent change in peak VO 2 ) lower multimorbidity was associated with a 1.5-2-fold increase in CRF when compared to those with higher multimorbidity (≥6 CC), Figure 1B . Conclusions: Patients entering CR have a high multimorbidity burden. Our results suggest that multimorbidity in CR patients attenuates improvement in peak VO 2 . Individualized interventions should focus on managing and reducing multimorbidity to minimize the negative impact on CRF improvement.