Virtual visits to optimize research trial offerings to heart failure patients

Background: Clinical trials are crucial for development of new treatments that impact outcomes. Assessments used in heart failure trials include the 6-minute hallway walk test (6MWT) and timed up and go test (TUG). Objectives: We hypothesized that 6MWT and TUG performed virtually would be feasible a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Laurie Ann Moennich, MPH, CPH, Barbara Bittel, BSN, RN, CCRP, Jerry D. Estep, MD, FACC, FASE
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-02-01
Series:Cardiovascular Digital Health Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666693621001250
_version_ 1818329777994465280
author Laurie Ann Moennich, MPH, CPH
Barbara Bittel, BSN, RN, CCRP
Jerry D. Estep, MD, FACC, FASE
author_facet Laurie Ann Moennich, MPH, CPH
Barbara Bittel, BSN, RN, CCRP
Jerry D. Estep, MD, FACC, FASE
author_sort Laurie Ann Moennich, MPH, CPH
collection DOAJ
description Background: Clinical trials are crucial for development of new treatments that impact outcomes. Assessments used in heart failure trials include the 6-minute hallway walk test (6MWT) and timed up and go test (TUG). Objectives: We hypothesized that 6MWT and TUG performed virtually would be feasible and comparable to in-person functionality testing for heart failure patients. Methods: This pilot study explored the use of virtual visits to collect functional information on patients living with heart failure. Patients were enrolled in an outpatient setting. Informed consent was obtained. Baseline testing consisted of patient-reported New York Hospital Association class, quality-of-life surveys (EQ-5D-5L, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire [KCCQ], Frailty Index for Elders), and cognitive assessments (Mini-Cog). Patients also completed an in-person TUG and 6MWT at baseline. Patients were issued supplies to set up TUG/6MWT courses at home. Follow-up video visits occurred 7 days and 14 days (± 3 days) postbaseline. Surveys (EQ-5D-5L, KCCQ, Frailty Index), TUG, and 6MWT were completed. Study staff reviewed 6MWT/TUG course set-up for accuracy and supervised patients during testing. Results: Of the 94 patients enrolled, 74 patients completed all 6MWT assessments. One-way repeated measures ANOVA found no statistical difference between mean in-person and virtual 6MWT (P = .45). One-way repeated measures ANOVA found a statistical difference between mean TUG scores (P = .03). Patients were comfortable with the use of virtual visits (56%), would participate in research studies through telemedicine (98.7%), and found completing a virtual research visit to be not difficult (77.3%). Conclusion: Virtual administration of the 6MWT was shown to be feasible and acceptable to heart failure patients as compared to in-person functionality testing. This approach could be implemented into clinical care pathways for evaluation of heart failure patients, as well as adopted by industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated research studies in heart failure cohorts for data collection.
first_indexed 2024-12-13T12:53:28Z
format Article
id doaj.art-cfee661e0bb34c61bc680a7be09ba2e6
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2666-6936
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-13T12:53:28Z
publishDate 2022-02-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Cardiovascular Digital Health Journal
spelling doaj.art-cfee661e0bb34c61bc680a7be09ba2e62022-12-21T23:45:16ZengElsevierCardiovascular Digital Health Journal2666-69362022-02-01314045Virtual visits to optimize research trial offerings to heart failure patientsLaurie Ann Moennich, MPH, CPH0Barbara Bittel, BSN, RN, CCRP1Jerry D. Estep, MD, FACC, FASE2Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute Research and Registries, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; Address reprint requests and correspondence: Ms Laurie Ann Moennich, HVTI Research and Registries – JJ5, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195.Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute Research and Registries, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OhioDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OhioBackground: Clinical trials are crucial for development of new treatments that impact outcomes. Assessments used in heart failure trials include the 6-minute hallway walk test (6MWT) and timed up and go test (TUG). Objectives: We hypothesized that 6MWT and TUG performed virtually would be feasible and comparable to in-person functionality testing for heart failure patients. Methods: This pilot study explored the use of virtual visits to collect functional information on patients living with heart failure. Patients were enrolled in an outpatient setting. Informed consent was obtained. Baseline testing consisted of patient-reported New York Hospital Association class, quality-of-life surveys (EQ-5D-5L, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire [KCCQ], Frailty Index for Elders), and cognitive assessments (Mini-Cog). Patients also completed an in-person TUG and 6MWT at baseline. Patients were issued supplies to set up TUG/6MWT courses at home. Follow-up video visits occurred 7 days and 14 days (± 3 days) postbaseline. Surveys (EQ-5D-5L, KCCQ, Frailty Index), TUG, and 6MWT were completed. Study staff reviewed 6MWT/TUG course set-up for accuracy and supervised patients during testing. Results: Of the 94 patients enrolled, 74 patients completed all 6MWT assessments. One-way repeated measures ANOVA found no statistical difference between mean in-person and virtual 6MWT (P = .45). One-way repeated measures ANOVA found a statistical difference between mean TUG scores (P = .03). Patients were comfortable with the use of virtual visits (56%), would participate in research studies through telemedicine (98.7%), and found completing a virtual research visit to be not difficult (77.3%). Conclusion: Virtual administration of the 6MWT was shown to be feasible and acceptable to heart failure patients as compared to in-person functionality testing. This approach could be implemented into clinical care pathways for evaluation of heart failure patients, as well as adopted by industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated research studies in heart failure cohorts for data collection.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666693621001250Digital healthHeart failureTelemedicineVirtual visit
spellingShingle Laurie Ann Moennich, MPH, CPH
Barbara Bittel, BSN, RN, CCRP
Jerry D. Estep, MD, FACC, FASE
Virtual visits to optimize research trial offerings to heart failure patients
Cardiovascular Digital Health Journal
Digital health
Heart failure
Telemedicine
Virtual visit
title Virtual visits to optimize research trial offerings to heart failure patients
title_full Virtual visits to optimize research trial offerings to heart failure patients
title_fullStr Virtual visits to optimize research trial offerings to heart failure patients
title_full_unstemmed Virtual visits to optimize research trial offerings to heart failure patients
title_short Virtual visits to optimize research trial offerings to heart failure patients
title_sort virtual visits to optimize research trial offerings to heart failure patients
topic Digital health
Heart failure
Telemedicine
Virtual visit
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666693621001250
work_keys_str_mv AT laurieannmoennichmphcph virtualvisitstooptimizeresearchtrialofferingstoheartfailurepatients
AT barbarabittelbsnrnccrp virtualvisitstooptimizeresearchtrialofferingstoheartfailurepatients
AT jerrydestepmdfaccfase virtualvisitstooptimizeresearchtrialofferingstoheartfailurepatients