Effectiveness of an online/offline mixed-mode Tai Chi cardiac rehabilitation program on microcirculation in patients with coronary artery disease: A randomized controlled study

Objective:
We explored the effectiveness of an online/offline mixed-mode Tai Chi cardiac rehabilitation program on the microcirculation of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Design:
Prospective, randomized controlled study.

Setting:
It was conducted in a tertiary hospital.

Subjects:
Twenty-six patients who met the diagnostic criteria for coronary artery disease were recruited.

Interventions:
Patients were randomized divided into a 12-week Tai Chi cardiac rehabilitation program(TCCRP) or a conventional exercise rehabilitation program(CERP) in a 1:1 fashion, 4 weeks of in-hospital rehabilitation and 8 weeks of online rehabilitation at home (a total of 12 weeks of intervention).

Main outcome measures:
Nailfold microcirculation (Morphological integrals, Blood flow integrals, Periphery capillary loop integrals, Overall integrals).

Main outcome measures:
Twenty patients completed the study. The Morphological integrals (baseline: 2.875±1.171 vs 12weeks: 1.863±0.414, t = 2.432, P = 0.045 < 0.05) and Overall integrals (baseline: 5.563±2.001 vs 12weeks: 3.688±1.167, t = 3.358, P = 0.012 < 0.05) decreased significantly in the TCCRP, The nailfold microcirculation integra decreased not significantly in the CERP (P > 0.05). The nailfold microcirculation integra was not significantly different between the two groups after the intervention (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:
The TCCRP improved the microcirculation of patients with CAD.

Keywords: Online/offline mixed-mode; Tai Chi cardiac rehabilitation program; coronary artery disease; microcirculation.

PMID: 37781795 DOI: 10.3233/CH-231894