Improving Cardiac Rehabilitation Outcomes Through Mobile Case Management (iCARE) (iCARE)

April 6, 2026 updated by: Thomas P. Olson, M.S., Ph.D., Mayo Clinic
The purpose of this research is to find out if doing cardiac rehab at home, or a mix of cardiac rehab at home and in the clinic, is as effective as coming in to the clinic for cardiac rehab.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

To address our specific aims we will use a single-center, prospective, three-arm, parallel group, randomized controlled trial design. At the time of identification of eligibility for participation, patients will be randomized to one of three arms (1:1:1 ratio): Arm 1 consists of patients randomized to conventional cardiac rehab only, Arm 2 consists of patients randomized to conventional cardiac rehab with the addition of the mHealth platform, and Arm 3 consists of patients randomized to remote case management using the mHealth platform only. Clinical metrics will include traditional cardiovascular risk factors with additional tracking of service utilization and adherence, and quality of life. Measures will be made at baseline (pre-intervention) and ~3-months (coinciding with completion of conventional CR). Additional follow-up will occur at 12 months post CR entry. Randomization to study arms will be done with a multidimensional dynamic allocation algorithm, minimizing imbalances in age, sex, body mass index, and race across study arms.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
206

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Minnesota
      • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455
        • University of Minnesota
      • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
        • Mayo Clinic

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Own or have reliable access to a smartphone or desktop computer with internet access
  • Have an email address
  • Patients who have a history of one of the following; acute myocardial infarction/acute coronary syndrome, stable angina pectoris, percutaneous coronary intervention, or heart failure.
  • Patients who have undergone a surgical procedure which includes an indication for cardiac rehabilitation (coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve repair/replacement, or heart transplant)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients referred to cardiac rehab with ventricular assist devices.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Conventional Center-Based Cardiac Rehab (CON)
Participants will be prescribed 36 sessions of center-based CR. This includes supervised exercise sessions, cooking demonstrations, didactic lectures, video presentations, group support, and stress management education. During sessions, participants have direct access to the medical director, case manager, registered nurse, exercise physiologist, and stress management specialists.
Other: Center-Based Cardiac Rehab
36 center-Based Cardiac Rehab Sessions
Active Comparator: Conventional Center-Based Cardiac Rehab + mHealth (CON+)
Participants will be prescribed 36 sessions of center-based CR as noted above. In addition, participants will be provided access to the mHealth platform which provides "e-Learning modules" with factsheets, videos, quizzes, and questionnaires (coinciding with activities being conducted during the CON program), a Social Network Module will allow patients to communicate via secure network with other patients who are part of their invited network. The Social Network Module also allows for secure two-way interaction with healthcare providers in the event that patients are experiencing signs or symptoms suggestive of worsening condition. This platform also contains a Personal Health Record Module allowing patients to upload, archive, and retrieve personal health data (e.g. fitness tracker data, heart rate monitor data, blood pressure recordings, etc.) and record vital signs, symptoms, treatments, and medical history.
Other: Center-Based Cardiac Rehab
36 center-Based Cardiac Rehab Sessions
Other: mHealth
Mobile Health Platform
Active Comparator: Home-Based Cardiac Rehab + mHealth (HOM+)
Participants will be provided paper copies of educational content at the time of event/discharge. In addition, these participants will be provided access to the same mHealth platform as the CON+ group. Participants in this group will be encouraged to exercise three days per week while also completing the additional questionnaires and educational content provided by the mHealth platform in accordance with the CR program. Participation will be tracked using web/internet analytics.
Other: mHealth
Mobile Health Platform
Other: Home-Based Cardiac Rehab
Encouraged to exercise 3 times per week at home

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Metabolic Equivalents of Task (METS)
Time Frame: Baseline; 3 Months
The change in metabolic equivalents of task (METS) assessed by measuring the energy the body uses during activity relative to resting energy expenditure.
Baseline; 3 Months
Number of Participants Who Were Re-hospitalized During the Trial
Time Frame: 1 Year
The number of participants who were re-hospitalized during the trial.
1 Year
Adherence to the Intervention
Time Frame: Baseline to 3 Months
The percentage of completed visits per participant that were attended from the start of the intervention (baseline) to the end of the intervention (3 months) relative to the number of prescribed visits per participant.
Baseline to 3 Months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Body Mass Index
Time Frame: Baseline; 3 Months
The change in body mass index (BMI) measured from baseline to 3 months.
Baseline; 3 Months
Change in Self-Reported Quality of Life
Time Frame: Baseline; 3 Months
The change in self-reported quality of life assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9) scale used to assess severity of depression. Scoring is calculated by assigning scores of 0, 1, 2, and 3 to the response categories, respectively, of "not at all," "several days," "more than half the days," and "nearly every day." Total score ranges from 0 to 27 where 0 is no depression, 1-4 is minimal depression, 5-9 is mild depression, 10-14 is moderate depression, and 15-19 is moderately severe depression and 20-27 severe depression.
Baseline; 3 Months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Mayo Clinic

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Thomas P Olson, Ph.D., M.S., Mayo Clinic

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 8, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 10, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 9, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 14, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 22, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 24, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 6, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 20-002258
  • R01NR018832 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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