The following is a summary of “Relationship of Race With Functional and Clinical Outcomes With the REHAB‐HF Multidomain Physical Rehabilitation Intervention for Older Patients With Acute Heart Failure,” published in the October 2023 issue of Cardiology by Gilbert et al.

The REHAB‐HF (Rehabilitation Therapy in Older Acute Heart Failure Patients) randomized trial showcased the effectiveness of a three-month tailored, progressive, multidomain physical rehabilitation intervention in enhancing physical function, frailty, depression, and health-related quality of life among older adults experiencing acute decompensated heart failure. This analysis aimed to assess whether the intervention’s impact differed based on racial backgrounds.

Within this prespecified analysis involving 337 participants (97% of the trial population) identifying as either Black (48%) or White (52%), the study investigated the effects at 3 months on several aspects, including physical function, cognition, depression, frailty, and health-related quality of life. The intervention exhibited substantial improvements in the Short Physical Performance Battery for both Black (effect size 1.3; 95% CI, 0.4–2.1; P=0.003) and White (effect size 1.6; 95% CI, 0.8–2.4; P<0.001) participants, without significant differences between racial groups (P=0.56). Positive outcomes were also observed in 6-minute Walk Distance, gait speed, and health-related quality of life measures, showing consistent efficacy across racial backgrounds. Notably, the intervention correlated with decreased all-cause rehospitalizations among White participants (rate ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.55–0.98; P=0.034), while this association seemed less evident among Black participants (rate ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.81–1.41; P=0.66; interaction P=0.067).

In conclusion, the rehabilitation intervention resulted in substantial enhancements in physical function and health-related quality of life in both older Black and White patients facing acute decompensated heart failure. However, further investigation through a more comprehensive study is necessary to determine the intervention’s impact on clinical events with a focus on varied racial backgrounds.

Source: ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.123.030588