Increasing the medium-term clinical benefits of hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation by physical activity telemonitoring in coronary artery disease patients.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a physical activity telemonitoring program on daily physical activity level, oxygen uptake capacity (VO2peak), and cardiovascular risk profile in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients who completed phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR).MethodsEighty CAD patients who completed phase II CR were randomly assigned to an additional telemonitoring intervention or standard CR. The patients in the intervention group (n = 40) wore a motion sensor continuously for 18 weeks. Each week these patients received a step count goal, with the aim to gradually increase the patients’ physical activity level. In the control group (n = 40), the patients wore an unreadable motion sensor for seven days for measurement purposes only (at start of follow-up, and after six and 18 weeks). At start of follow-up and after 18 weeks blood lipid profile, glycemic control, waist circumference and body mass index was assessed. VO2peak was assessed at start of follow-up, and a...