Background: Frailty is highly prevalent among older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and strongly predicts disability and mortality after cardiac events. Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves prognosis, frail older patients often face barriers to participating in in-person programs. eHealth-based, home-delivered CR programs incorporating tele-rehabilitation and remote monitoring may improve accessibility, yet evidence regarding their effectiveness on frailty status remains limited. Methods: We designed a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group trial enrolling people ≥65 years recently hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF) and/or acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Participants were randomized 1:1 to an eHealth home-based tele-rehabilitation program or the usual care. The primary endpoint is frailty prevalence at follow-up, defined by an Essential Frailty Toolset (EFT) score ≥3, with co-primary outcomes being between-group differences in the mean levels of EFT and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores after 3–6 months. Secondary endpoints include mortality and hospitalization, among others. Results: The full protocol and study procedures are reported. Between May 2024 and December 2025, 589 patients were screened at the two Italian centers involved; 442 met eligibility criteria and 209 were enrolled and randomized. Baseline characteristics were largely comparable between groups. The mean age was 77 ± 9 years, 70% were male, and 55% had ACS. Lower-than-expected enrollment was mainly attributable to refusal related to difficulties in using digital devices. Conclusions: This randomized trial will evaluate whether a multidomain, eHealth-based CR intervention can reduce the prevalence or degree of frailty in older people after AHF or ACS. We report the study protocol and baseline characteristics of the enrolled cohort, highlighting the challenge of digital illiteracy in contemporary older populations.

Background: Frailty is highly prevalent among older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and strongly predicts disability and mortality after cardiac events. Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves prognosis, frail elderly patients often face barriers to participate to in-person programs. eHealth-based, home-delivered CR programs incorporating tele-rehabilitation and remote monitoring may improve accessibility, yet evidence regarding their effectiveness on frailty status remains limited. Methods: We designed a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group trial enrolling people ≥65 years recently hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF) and/or acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Participants were randomized 1:1 to an eHealth home-based tele-rehabilitation program or usual care. The primary endpoint is frailty prevalence at follow-up, defined by an Essential Frailty Toolset (EFT) score ≥3, with co-primary outcomes being between-group differences in the mean levels of EFT and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores after 3–6 months. Secondary endpoints include mortality and hospitalization, among others. Results: The full protocol and study procedures are reported. Between May 2024 and December 2025, 589 patients were screened at the two Italian centers involved; 442 met eligibility criteria and 209 were enrolled and randomized. Baseline characteristics were largely comparable between groups. Mean age was 77 ± 9 years, 70% were male, and 55% had ACS. At the time of reporting, follow-up had been completed in 172 individuals, with balanced dropout between groups. Lower-than-expected enrollment was mainly attributable to refusal related to difficulties in using digital devices. Conclusions: This randomized trial will evaluate whether a multidomain, eHealth-based CR intervention can reduce the prevalence or degree of frailty in older people after AHF or ACS. We report the study protocol and baseline characteristics of the enrolled cohort, highlighting the challenge of digital illiteracy in contemporary elderly populations.

Background/Objectives: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and may recur during cardiac rehabilitation (CR); its long-term prognostic value remains unclear. We evaluated the impact of POAF on a composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and non-fatal stroke after isolated CABG and assessed POAF duration and timing, AF recurrence, and other predictors of adverse outcomes. Methods: This multicentre retrospective study enrolled 1139 patients who underwent CR after isolated CABG between 2011 and 2015 across 17 Italian centres. Clinical and outcome data were obtained from medical records and structured interviews; median follow-up was 5.78 years. Results: POAF occurred in 34.3% of patients and was associated with a higher incidence of the primary composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and non-fatal stroke in univariate analysis (15.4% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.008), particularly when lasting ≥48 h or occurring during both surgery and rehabilitation. However, in multivariate analysis POAF was not an independent predictor; instead, CHA₂DS₂-VASc score ≥3, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, elevated urea, history of heart failure, and AF recurrence during follow-up predicted adverse outcomes. Conclusions: POAF reflects early vulnerability but does not independently predict long-term mortality or stroke. Conversely, AF recurrence and CHA₂DS₂-VASc score retain strong prognostic value, underscoring the need for long-term rhythm monitoring and individualised risk assessment post-CABG.