Heart patients typically do well when enrolled in a cardiac rehab program, but they usually revert to unhealthy lifestyles once they are discharged from care. A new study suggests that virtual coaches and fitness trackers could keep these patients active, even after cardiac rehab ends. In the study, investigators found that a twelve-week mobile health program that consisted of a wearable activity tracker, a personalized prescription to walk a certain number of steps per day, and personalized virtual sessions with a health coach over the phone or computer not only kept cardiac rehab patients from losing ground, but it actually helped them maintain and even gain fitness compared with those who received usual care after cardiac rehab. Researcher Dr. Brian Duscha adds, “This has important public health implications, because maintenance of physical activity and physical fitness are inversely associated with cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke.”
American Heart Journal, March 2018