This is evident from the initial findings of the Heart-ROCQ study of the Heart Center of the UMCG. Since 2015, the UMCG Heart Center and Rehabilitation Center have offered the program jointly. Heart patients follow a tailor-made training program. This means they undergo their operation as fit as possible; this is called prehabilitation. They will continue with the program within a week after surgery. The goal is that fewer complications occur after the operation and fewer re-operations are required. It should also lead to better condition, functioning and quality of life of the patients. Johanneke Hartog conducted extensive research into the effect of this program.
‘Movement is necessary, always and everywhere’
According to Hartog, the popular wisdom that you should avoid all exertion and take it easy if you have heart problems is now very outdated. Hartog: ‘You must exercise, always and everywhere’, you could almost say. Our research shows that by offering this form of prehabilitation, patients who have to undergo heart surgery can exercise and exercise completely safely. Also for patients who have to undergo really serious heart surgery. The training courses were very well supervised and there have never been any cardiac incidents involving patients. The participants are very satisfied and they also recommend it to other heart patients. I or the practitioners regularly receive thank you’s from patients for discussing the program with them and for allowing them to participate.’
Patients feel better
For her research, Hartog compared the data of 91 patients who participated in the program with 789 patients who previously received the same type of procedure at the UMCG without a program. She saw a decrease in the number of cardiac arrhythmias after the operation. Hartog: ”In addition, patients can exert more effort eight weeks after the operation than before the operation. We can see this by measuring the heart rate and load during cycling training. We expect that this will make it easier for them to resume their daily lives. That means savings on medical and social costs.’ Hartog also experiences that patients have less fear of the operation. Hartog: ‘They regularly say to me: ‘I have confidence in the operation.’
Comparison study is still ongoing
During her PhD, Johanneke Hartog expanded the ongoing Heart-ROCQ research by comparing a group of patients who did or did not follow the program. ‘I am now following a group of 350 patients in total, half of whom are doing the program. We also check how both groups are doing one year after the operation. These results hopefully provide robust evidence that patients are better off if they follow the program.’ This research will be completed in 2025.
In an earlier interview can read the experiences of the researcher, a physiotherapist and some patients.
2023-09-20 08:22:37
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