A new meta-analysis published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that smartphone apps and wearable fitness trackers significantly boost physical activity among people with cardiovascular disease. The analysis, which reviewed 14 clinical trials involving more than 1,000 adults, showed that users of these digital technologies walked nearly 1,100 more steps and engaged in about four extra minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day compared to those who did not use them.
Physical activity is crucial for preventing additional cardiovascular events, yet many patients face barriers to traditional cardiac rehabilitation, such as time, distance, or financial constraints. “Smartphones and wearables are already in people’s pockets and on their wrists,” said Ajith Vemuri, Ph.D., the study’s lead author and 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 use behavior-change methods like self-monitoring, feedback, and goal setting to encourage activity. Some apps include gamification, coaching, and progress tracking. “These devices are not just gadgets,” added Ramin Zand, M.D., M.P.H., the study’s senior author and 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.”
However, the analysis did not find significant improvements in peak oxygen consumption or walking distance, suggesting that while digital tools motivate short-term activity increases, longer studies are needed to determine if these changes translate into lasting fitness and health benefits. The findings align with a 2021 American Heart Association scientific statement on mobile health technology for secondary prevention in older adults, which noted that such tools can encourage lifestyle changes and medication adherence.
Damon L. Swift, Ph.D., FAHA, immediate past-chair of the American Heart Association’s Lifestyle Physical Activity Committee, commented on the broader implications: “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 even moderate increases in activity, such as reaching about 7,000 steps per day, are associated with reduced mortality risk.
The study’s limitations include a lack of data on long-term sustainability and a predominance of participants with coronary heart disease, which may limit generalizability to other cardiovascular conditions. The researchers call for future studies to confirm whether the observed activity boosts can be maintained over time and lead to improved clinical outcomes.
