UAB Gets $3.3M to Test Telehealth Cardio Program

After receiving a $3.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a group of researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) explored the extent to which wheelchair users benefited from a telehealth cardio program.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 11.1 percent of US adults have a disability related to mobility, which includes serious difficulty walking or using stairs.

UAB also noted that about 5.5 million people in the US are wheelchair users, many of whom live nonactive lifestyles, which correlates with a higher risk of cardiometabolic complications.

This study, however, aimed to determine whether telehealth exercise training improved outcomes among this population.

“There are limited exercise options available for wheelchair users to improve their health,” Jereme D. Wilroy, PhD, assistant professor for the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, said in a press release. “This study has the potential to improve exercise options with a sustainable and scalable solution to improving health outcomes for wheelchair users.”

Led by Wilroy, this study received support from the NIH through a $3.3 million RO1 grant. Researchers also noted that this study is an extension of a previous effort, however, its concentration shifted toward cardio.

“We are building on our previous success with Movement-to-Music, a rhythm-based exercise program that has proved effective in improving health,” said Wilroy. “We are adapting the M2M telehealth delivery method to develop a program with a cardio emphasis.”

Furthermore, researchers intend to operate a 24-week program containing a remote training system to determine the abilities of the program in handling cardiometabolic risk factors through videoconferencing and virtual sign monitoring.

“We are thrilled that NIH has recognized the need for Dr. Wilroy’s exercise interventions for health improvement through innovative design and telehealth technology,” said Yuying Chen, MD, PhD, professor and director of Research for the department. “If successful, this project would be a game-changer for optimizing exercise dosing and prescription for wheelchair users.”

Similarly, other past instances have consisted of the dedication of funding toward efforts of extending telehealth services to underserved populations.

For example, in April, US Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) obtained $2 million in the federal 2023 budget to growa telehealth service from People Inc. Intended to assist senior citizens, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, deaf patients, and Alzheimer’s patients, this telehealth service cincludes registered nurses available to assist patients in the western region of the state through telephone or video-based conferencing.

These registered nurses assist with injury assessment, concerns surrounding medication, differentiation between behavioral and medical issues, and connecting patients to necessary care.