Community-based cardiac rehabilitation for Chinese migrants in Australia: A pilot randomised controlled trial

The dataset supports the findings of a randomised pilot trial below. The dataset contains de-identified original data collected via REDCap database, including CSV/Microsoft excel (raw data), and CSV/Microsoft excel (label).

Background: Traditional cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs face low participation and high dropout rates, especially among culturally and linguistically diverse communities, such as Chinese migrants. This study assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of a co-designed, community-based CR program tailored to the needs of Chinese migrants in Australia.

Methods: This pilot randomised controlled trial included 19 Chinese migrants (31.6% female) who had undergone stent or bypass surgery. Participants were randomly assigned to a CR group or a waitlist control. The CR program comprised: (1) Virtual shared medical appointment: a one-time 90-minute group consultation and 30-min individual consultations; (2) Virtual Tai Chi: twice-weekly, 60-minute sessions for 24 weeks; and (3) Health education: four semi-personalised weekly messages for 24 weeks. Primary outcomes included recruitment rate, retention rate, and safety. Secondary outcomes included cardiometabolic markers, physical capacity, self-efficacy, social support, quality of life, psychological wellbeing, physical activity and satisfaction. Assessments were conducted at baseline, week 12 and 24. Statistically analysis were conducted using SPSS (version 26.0).

Results: No program-related adverse events were reported, and the retention rate was 86%. Compared with the waitlist control, the CR group showed significant improvements over 24 weeks in physical capacity (6-minute walk test, p=0.041), physical activity (7-day walking distance, p=0.01), and psychological wellbeing, including depression p=0.017, anxiety p=0.006, and overall distress (total DASS-21 score, p=0.017).

Conclusion: A community-based CR program is feasible and effective in improving physical fitness, physical activity, and psychological wellbeing among Chinese migrants over 24 weeks. Future fully powered randomized clinical trial should confirm its effectiveness.

This project has extended ethics approval. To discuss or request access to the dataset, please contact Emily Yang (Guoyan Yang ) 0000-0002-8012-2379