BACKGROUND: Exercise is important for fitness and recovery of older adults after hospitalization for treatment of cardiovascular disease. Home-based, nurse-led exercise programs may be beneficial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test the effects of a low-intensity, home-based exercise protocol led by an advanced practice nurse on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), physical fitness, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in older adults after hospital discharge with a cardiovascular disease diagnosis. METHODS: The study was randomized and single blinded. Seventy-seven older adults (> 75 years old, mean 80.68 years old) were included; 32 subjects in the intervention and 29 in the control group completed the study. The low-intensity, home-based exercise protocol is composed of 14-type joint exercises and walking for 12 weeks. The main outcome measures were assessments on the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-36, the Senior Fitness Test, and LVEF at baseline and 12 weeks after hospital discharge. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, the intervention group showed significant improvements in HRQOL (physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, and vitality; p < 0.05) as well as on the Senior Fitness Test (chair stands, arm curls, Timed Up and Go, and 6-minute walk distance; p < 0.05); there was no significant improvement in LVEF (p = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: The low-intensity, home-based exercise led by an advanced practice nurse was effective in improving HRQOL and physical fitness. Adherence was high, and there were no adverse events related to exercise.

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