Smartphone Apps and Wearable Trackers Boost Physical Activity in Heart Disease Patients

A new analysis of 14 clinical trials involving more than 1,000 adults with cardiovascular disease found that using smartphone apps and wearable fitness trackers significantly increased physical activity. Published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the study showed that participants using these digital tools walked nearly 1,100 more steps per day and engaged in about four additional minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity compared to those who did not use them.

Physical activity is crucial for preventing additional cardiovascular events among people with heart disease. However, many patients cannot participate in traditional cardiac rehabilitation due to time, distance, or financial constraints. "Smartphones and wearables are already in people's pockets and on their wrists," said lead author Ajith Vemuri, Ph.D., a staff scientist in neurology at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. "When we show that these devices can effectively support routine care, we can start designing cost-effective, personalized digital interventions that reach a much wider population."

The devices in the studies included smartphone apps and wearable trackers that set personalized step goals, send reminders or motivational messages, provide feedback on progress, and link to home-based rehabilitation programs. Some apps incorporated gamification, coaching, and goal review. "These devices are not just gadgets," added senior author Ramin Zand, M.D., M.P.H., a professor of neurology and public health at Penn State College of Medicine. "When included in a treatment plan, they can support routine care and help patients take small yet important steps toward better cardiovascular health."

The meta-analysis reviewed 14 clinical trials with 1,057 participants, most of whom had coronary heart disease, heart failure, or a history of heart attack or stroke. The key findings indicate that digital tools boosted daily steps by nearly 1,100 and increased moderate-to-vigorous activity by about four minutes per day. However, the tools did not significantly improve peak oxygen consumption or walking distance. "Longer studies are needed to see if these changes lead to lasting improvement in fitness and overall health outcomes," Zand noted.

An April 2021 American Heart Association scientific statement on Harnessing Mobile Health Technology for Secondary Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Older Adults highlighted that mobile health technology can encourage lifestyle behavior changes and medication adherence. Damon L. Swift, Ph.D., FAHA, immediate past-chair of the Association's Lifestyle Physical Activity Committee, commented: "Research has shown that fewer than one-third of people with cardiovascular disease are physically active. Combining mobile and wearable technologies with standard preventive measures provides a unique opportunity to potentially further reduce the risk of advanced cardiovascular disease or a second or third CVD event." He added that there is a health benefit from moving from inactive to somewhat active, and reduced risk of death even at about 7,000 steps per day.

The study's limitations include a lack of long-term data on sustainability, and most participants had coronary heart disease, so results may not apply to all cardiovascular conditions. The researchers searched three electronic databases for studies published between January 2000 and February 2025. The analysis was published in the peer-reviewed journal, and the American Heart Association receives funding from various sources, with strict policies to prevent influence on science content.