Background: The aim of cardiac rehabilitation is to restore the patient’s physical, psychological,
economical and social stability. The most prominent results of cardiac rehabilitation
have been: the improvement of patient’s quality of life, the reduction of mortality,
morbidity and of the risk of future hospital readmission. Cardiac rehabilitation is a combination
of physical exercises alongside with educational and psychological support. In
evaluating rehabilitation strategies, the quality of life measurements have been indispensable
methods for determining changes in the psychological and social well-being of the
patient.
Objective: The aim of this project is to contribute towards the establishment of cardiac
rehabilitation programs by supplementing the already existing evidence of its effectiveness.
This, we intend to achieve by providing a report on the subject that better reflects the
real world practice including the recruitment of older and higher risk patients.
Design: We will conduct a randomized controlled trial including 496 patients who will be
assigned to either participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program or receive the standard
care currently provided by our public health system. This study will be conducted over a
period of four years. During this time we will assess and compare the changes in the
health related quality of life of all the participants.
Setting: This study protocol will take place in Puigcerdà, La Cerdanya.
Participants: The participants will be adult patients with coronary heart disease or heart
failure who do not show contraindication for physical exercise. We will invite the patients
of Hospital de Cerdanya, who meet the criteria to participate in the trial from December
2016 to January 2019
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