VWCR to Improve Cardiovascular Health and Outcomes Among Cardiac Patients: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial Protocol (Destination Cardiac Rehab Study) (NCT07745894)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
The purpose of this research is to compare health outcomes and participation between a virtual world cardiac rehabilitation (Destination Cardiac Rehab) program and the standard of care Center-based Cardiac Rehabilitation program. Destination Cardiac Rehab, developed with input from patients with heart disease and their caregivers, is a 3-D, interactive program offering an affordable telehealth option for cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) that can be done from home or any place that you can access the Internet with a computer.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (11 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (12 items).
Location: University of California — Irvine, California
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- High risk patients according to the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) risk stratification103 given safety concern of unsupervised exercise:
- Sudden cardiac arrest survivor
- Receiving continuous inotropic support
- Presence of a mechanical circulatory support device
- Decompensated heart failure
- Symptomatic valvular heart disease
- Uncontrolled angina
- Presence of hemodynamically unstable dysrhythmias (e.g., ventricular tachycardia)
- Pregnant (due to associated hormonal and weight changes)
- Non-English-speaking
- Visual/hearing impairment or mental disability that would preclude independent use of the VW platform
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (3 Sites)
- University of California — Irvine, California
- Mayo Clinic — Rochester, Minnesota
- University of Mississippi Medical Center — Jackson, Mississippi
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.