Early REmote rehabilitation to improve health of the elderly after CARDiac surgery. (RECARD trial). a bi-center, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded evaluation (PROBE) trial
NCT ID NCT06370611
First seen Sep 09, 2026 · Last updated Sep 09, 2026
Summary
An increasing number of older patients undergo heart surgery. Despite seemingly successful outcomes, these vulnerable patients may face prolonged decreased functional capacity, reduced self-efficacy, and impaired quality of life after discharge. Early engagement in physical activity and education plays a key role in health and well-being after heart surgery The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of an app-based exercise program and weekly calls from a physiotherapist in the early stages after open heart surgery. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to either a control group receiving standard care or an intervention group, which will be introduced to an individually tailored exercise program as an addition to standard care. Follow-up is planned with an out-patient visit six weeks after discharge and a telephone interview six months post-surgery. All participants will undergo assessments at enrollment and during follow-up. Physical performance will be evaluated through physical tests. General well-being, quality of life, self-reported physical activity, and cost-effectiveness of the intervention will be assessed through questionnaires. Muscle health will be examined through blood sampling, CT scans, and muscle biopsies. The primary endpoint is the 30-second Chair Stand Test serving as a measurement of physical function.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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118 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2024
- Finished
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Aug 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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65 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Provision of signed and dated informed consent form * Scheduled first-time heart surgery through median sternotomy * Male or female, aged ≥ 65 years (The age criterion implies the exclusion of women of childbearing potential) Exclusion Criteria: * Medical conditions requiring referral to specialized rehabilitation (e.g., severe heart or lung failure, need for blood pressure monitoring during exercise) * Emergent procedure * Anticipated inability to perform intervention, study assessment procedures, or follow-up * Participation in any other interventional clinical that may interfere with the outcome measures
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Aarhus University Hospital
Aarhus, Denmark, 8200, Denmark
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Aarlborg University Hospital
Aalborg, 9000, Denmark
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can Hands-On hospital training beat online learning for future cardiologists?