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

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lyu, Shaojun^{a; *} | Chen, Zaihao^{a; 1} | Cui, Meize^a | Wei, Qiuyang^b | Li, Yameng^a | Fang, Hui^a | Liu, Mingyu^a | Liu, Linli^a | Fu, Jiahao^a | Zhang, Jianwei^a

Affiliations: [a] College of P.E. and Sports, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China | [b] Sports Department of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Shaojun Lyu, College of P.E and Sports, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China. E-mail: [email protected].

Note: [1] First author.

Abstract: 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

DOI: 10.3233/CH-231894

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 85, no. 4, pp. 385-393, 2023