To assess the impact of the closure of group-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) training during the first COVID-19 lockdown in spring 2020 on patients’ physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiovascular risk, and to describe the patient experience of lockdown and home-based exercise training during lockdown.
Mixed methods study. Prospectively collected post-lockdown measurements were compared to pre-lockdown medical record data. Quantitative measurements were supplemented with qualitative interviews about the patient experience during lockdown.
Outpatient CR centre in Salzburg, Austria.
Twenty-seven patients [six female, mean (SD) age 69 (7.4) years] who attended weekly CR training sessions until the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.
Quantitative: exercise capacity (maximal ergometer test, submaximal ergometer training), cardiovascular risk (Framingham risk score, blood pressure, body mass index, lipids). Qualitative: individual semi-structured interviews.
Exercise capacity had significantly reduced from pre- to post-lockdown: mean (SD) power (W) in maximal ergometry 165 (70) vs. 151 (70),
This study highlights the importance of group-based supervised exercise training for patients who engage well in such a setting, and the detrimental impact of disruption to this type of CR service on physical activity levels and exercise capacity. Additionally, learning from the COVID-19 pandemic may inform the development and implementation of remote CR modalities going forward.