Remote rehabilitation in patients with breast cancer: a cohort study

BACKGROUND: Remote rehabilitation expands access to necessary care for patients with breast cancer by eliminating transportation barriers, reducing infectious risks, and overcoming limitations in specialist availability. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different models of remote medical rehabilitation in outpatients with breast cancer. METHODS: A prospective controlled nonrandomized study included 80 patients with stage I–III breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant therapy. The main group received remote rehabilitation and was subdivided into two subgroups: one using a specialized interactive DAR platform and another interacting with a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team via messaging applications. The control group was monitored by an oncologist and received medical care in accordance with clinical guidelines. At baseline and after 6 months of follow-up, the following outcomes were assessed: quality of life (HeartQoL questionnaire), anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; Spielberger–Khanin Inventory), treatment adherence (COP-25 quantitative assessment scale), and instrumental and functional parameters (echocardiography; Six-Minute Walk Test). RESULTS: Patients in the main group demonstrated significant improvement in quality of life and reduction in anxiety levels compared with the control group. Functional capacity remarkably increased in the main group, whereas a decline was observed in the control group. Preservation of left ventricular function was noted in the main group, whereas a significant reduction was recorded in controls. The most pronounced positive changes were observed among users of the specialized DAR interactive platform compared with those communicating via messaging applications. CONCLUSION: Remote rehabilitation models are effective tools for maintaining and improving functional activity and psychoemotional status in patients with breast cancer. The additional use of specialized interactive platforms within a hybrid remote rehabilitation model provides greater clinical benefit, whereas simplified communication channels remain an important alternative for patients with limited access to digital technologies.