Abstract
BackgroundThe benefits of physical activity and cardiovascular rehabilitation on the reduction of cardiovascular risk are well documented. Despite this, significant barriers and challenges remain in optimizing patient risk factors post acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and ensuring patient compliance. Consumer wearable personal activity trackers represent a cost effective and readily available technology that may aid in this endeavour.MethodsUP-STEP ACS is a prospective single-blinded, two-arm, parallel, randomized control trial with an aim to enrol 200 patients all undertaking cardiac rehabilitation. It will assess the affect that personal activity monitors have on change in exercise capacity in patients post acute coronary syndromes primarily measured by a six-minute walk test (6MWT). Secondary end points will be the improvement in other cardiovascular risk factors, namely; blood lipid and glucose levels, weight, waist circumference, along with mood, quality of life and cardiac rehabilitation adherence. Patients will be randomized to either receive a personal activity tracker or standard post hospital care during their index event. After the 8- week intervention period, patients will return for a clinical review and repeat of baseline assessments including the 6MWT.DiscussionThe utility and impact on exercise capacity of personal activity trackers in patient’s post-acute coronary syndrome has not been assessed. This study aims to add to the scientific evidence emerging regarding the clinical utility and validity of these devices in different patient population groups. If proven to be of benefit, these devices represent a cost effective, easily accessible technology that could aid in the reduction of cardiovascular events.Trial registrationThe trial has been registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). The registration number is ACTRN12617000312347 (28/02/2017).
Highlights
The benefits of physical activity and cardiovascular rehabilitation on the reduction of cardiovascular risk are well documented
Aim The aim of this study is to assess the impact of personal activity trackers on exercise capacity, and improvement of cardiovascular risk factors including blood lipids, blood glucose, mood, weight, waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, exercise motivation and quality of life (QOL) in post acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation, Hypotheses The primary hypothesis is that the use of a personal activity tracker will improve exercise capacity, as measured by an objective 6-min walk test, compared to standard care alone
To our knowledge the UP-STEP trial will be the first study with the primary aim of determining the impact that personal activity trackers have on exercise capacity in patients following an acute coronary syndrome
Summary
The benefits of physical activity and cardiovascular rehabilitation on the reduction of cardiovascular risk are well documented. Significant barriers and challenges remain in optimizing patient risk factors post acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and ensuring patient compliance. The increased understanding of cardiovascular risk factors and the importance of aggressive primary and secondary prevention measures have aided significantly in the reduction of cardiovascular disease and events. Coronary heart disease (CHD) still represents the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Australia with almost 20,000 deaths in 2013 attributed to CHD [4]. This is reflected globally with the World Health Organisation (WHO) attributing 8.76 million deaths, or 15.5% of the estimated 56.4 million deaths in 2015 to CHD [5]. Australian data has estimated that 34% of all hospital admissions for ACS are repeat events with this representing a significant burden on the health care system economically, and a poor prognostic marker for patients individually [7]
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