Overview
This study aims to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of a 12-week community-based remote cardiac rehabilitation program on cardiopulmonary function and quality of life in pediatric patients (aged 8 to 18 years) with complex congenital heart disease. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving the remote cardiac rehabilitation program or a control group receiving the standard of care.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Aged 8 to 18 years.
- Diagnosed with complex congenital heart disease (e.g., single ventricle, transposition of the great arteries) and have a history of cardiac surgery.
- At least 3 months post-cardiac surgery and maintaining a stable hemodynamic status.
- Capable of utilizing remote programs (mobile apps, video platforms, etc.) in the home environment with technical support from guardians.
- Participant or guardian has agreed to participate and signed the written informed consent form.
- Confirmed to have decreased physical activity level and physical well-being through assessments (Must meet both):
- KIDSCREEN-27 Parent Proxy-report 'Physical well-being' domain T-score of 40 or below.
- Exercise Vital Sign (EVS) survey indicating moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time of less than 420 minutes per week.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Ongoing cardiovascular diseases such as uncontrolled arrhythmia, acute heart failure, myocarditis, or pericarditis.
- Neurological or musculoskeletal disorders that make independent exercise impossible.
- Cognitive impairment that prevents understanding or following the instructions of the remote rehabilitation program.
- Clinical levels of depression or anxiety restricting exercise participation, as determined by the attending physician (assessed via Korean Children's Depression Inventory 2: Self-Report \[K-CDI-2:SR\] and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, Second Edition \[RCMAS-2\]).
- Inability to cooperate with study tests, such as the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET), Electrocardiogram (ECG), and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT).
- Currently wearing an artificial pacemaker.
