The Effect of Peer-Mentor Support for Older Vulnerable Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease—A 24-Week Randomized Controlled Trial

Background The positive effects of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are well established; however, among older and vulnerable patients, nonattendance and dropout are prevalent problems. Aim The objective of this study is to explore if a 24-week peer-mentor intervention increases initial and long-term CR attendance. Secondary aims are whether peer-mentor intervention improves lifestyle (diet and physical activity) and psychological outcomes (self-efficacy, anxiety, depression, and quality of life) among older vulnerable patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods The study was designed as a 2-arm, single-center, parallel, 24-week, randomized controlled trial (RCT) with follow-up at 12 and 24 weeks. Patients were randomized at a ratio of 1:1 to receive either the peer-mentor intervention (in addition to standard CR) or standard CR along (control arm). Results Between August 2021 and March 2023, 117 older, vulnerable patients were enrolled and randomized (59 randomized to peer-mentor intervention and 58 to usual care). The peer-mentor intervention significantly increased CR attendance. This applies to both initial participation in 1 CR session of physical training or dietary advice (78.0% vs 58.6%; P =.03), and long-term attendance in ≥50% dietary advice sessions (50.8% vs 27.6%; P =.01) and completed ≥50% (64.4% vs 41.4% P =.01) or ≥75% of the physical training sessions (59.3% vs 37.9%; P =.02). The study found no statistically significant effect on secondary outcomes. Conclusions Low CR attendance is a well-known problem, especially among older, vulnerable patients; however, we tested a low-cost, peer-mentor intervention that significantly increased both initial CR participation and long-term attendance in CR sessions in this group of patients.