Prehabilitation Program for Patients Awaiting Elective Heart Surgery at Increased Risk of Postoperative Complications: Feasibility and Potential Clinical Outcomes (PRÉAD-CARDIAQU)

University of Montreal

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Postoperative Complications; Cardiac Surgery; Prehabilitation

Treatments: Other: Exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07144722

2025-3527

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this study is to learn if an exercise-based prehabilitation program can help people who are waiting for heart surgery and are at higher risk of complications recover better.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Can a home-based prehabilitation program prescribed by a physiotherapist be done safely and realistically before heart surgery?

Participants will:

Take part in a personalized exercise program for a 8 to 16 weeks before surgery

Do breathing muscle training at home

Meet with a physiotherapist once a week, either in person or by video call

Be assessed before and after the program

Researchers will compare the postoperative results with those of patients who received usual care only.

Enrollment: 45 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• A high risk of perioperative and postoperative complications. This risk is determined based on the predictive thresholds for postoperative complications.
• A waiting period of at least 8 weeks.
• Access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer for videoconference visits.

Exclusion criteria

• Unstable angina, malignant arrhythmias, active endocarditis/myocarditis, myocardial infarction within the last 2 weeks, left main coronary artery disease ≥ 50% on coronary angiography, severe aortic stenosis, severe mitral insufficiency, and decompensated heart failure.
• Any other acute condition affecting vital signs or causing significant symptoms.
• Physical or cognitive impairment limiting the ability to participate in the program.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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45 participants in 1 patient group

Prehab group

Experimental group

Description:

Supervised by a physiotherapist, the program includes an initial functional assessment, individualized training (breathing exercises, aerobic and strengthening exercises), and weekly follow-up via videoconference or phone.

Treatment:

Other: Exercise