Effectiveness of Physical Activity Interventions Using Wearables and Smartphone Applications for Individuals With...

Lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Wearables and smartphones offer potential advantages in cost, accessibility, and scale to change physical activity. This systematic review aims to determine if interventions comprising smartphones and wearables are effective in enhancing physical activity among individuals with cardiovascular disease.

PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases were searched for randomized controlled trials, published since January 2000, on wearables and smartphone applications to enhance physical activity among patients with cardiovascular disease. Nonrandomized trials and interventions without a smartphone/wearable component were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Meta-analyses were performed to assess the pooled effect on steps per day, distance, oxygen consumption, and (moderate-to-vigorous) physical activity in minutes per day.

Fourteen randomized controlled trials were included. Interventions comprising smartphones and wearables resulted in a mean difference of 1097.4 (95% CI, 409.2-1785.6; P=0.0018) steps per day, and 3.9 (95% CI, 0.2-7.6; P=0.0413) minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity per day compared with control groups.

This meta-analysis showed that interventions comprising smartphones and wearable devices are effective at increasing physical activity among patients with cardiovascular disease. Wearables and smartphones could provide accessible and tailored interventions to enhance physical activity.