Ursula Rohrer, Anja Reischl, Martin Manninger, Ronald K Binder, Lukas Fiedler, Michael Gruska, Johann Altenberger, Andreas Dorr, Clemens Steinwender, Markus Stuehlinger, Manfred Wonisch, Birgit Zirngast, David Zweiker, Andreas Zirlik, Daniel Scherr
PURPOSE: Patients at risk for sudden cardiac death may temporarily need a wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD). Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has a class I recommendation in patients with cardiac disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of undergoing CR with a WCD. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients with a WCD who completed a CR in Austria (2010-2020). RESULTS: Patients (n = 55, 60 ± 11 yr, 16% female) with a median baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 36 (30, 41)% at the start of CR showed a daily WCD wearing duration of 23...
November 30, 2023: Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention