Abstract Background Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is central in reducing morbidity and mortality after myocardial infarction (MI). However, the fulfillment of guideline recommended CR targets is unsatisfactory. eHealth offers new possibilities to improve clinical care. Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a mobile device application to support adherence to lifestyle advice and self-control of risk factors as a complement to traditional CR after MI. Method This unblinded multi-centre randomized controlled trial included 150 patients with MI (81% men, 60.4±8.8 years). All patients in the intervention (INT) and control (CON) groups participated in a 1-year CR program. Additionally, INT patients (n=101) received access to the mobile device application for 25 weeks post-MI where information about lifestyle (i.e., diet, physical activity, smoking), modifiable risk factors (i.e., weight, blood pressure (BP)), and symptoms could be registered. The software provided direct positive feedback and lifestyle advice. Data was reviewed twice weekly by the CR nurse. The primary outcome was change in sub-maximal exercise capacity (W) between an exercise test 2-weeks post MI and at follow-up 4 month later. Secondary outcomes included changes in lifestyle and modifiable risk factors including body mass index, waist circumference, blood-lipids, fasting glucose and HbA1c, between baseline and 2-week, 2-month and 1-year follow-up visits. Regression analysis was used, adjusting for relevant baseline variables. Results Participation in CR was high, with 96% of INT patients and 98% of the CON patients attending the 1-year follow-up visit. Forty-six percent of the INT patients and 57% of the CON patients attended centre-based exercise training (p=0.1). In the INT group 86% logged data in the application at least once. Adherence, defined as logging data at least twice per week, was 92% in week 1 and 57% in week 25. There was a numerical trend toward better exercise capacity improvement in the INT group (INT +14.4±19.0 vs. CON +10.3±16.1 W, p=0.2) although differences were non-significant. INT patients achieved larger BP reduction at 2-weeks (systolic) and 2-months (systolic and diastolic) (Figure). At 2-months 70% vs. 46% of smokers in the INT vs CON groups had quit smoking, and at 1-year the respective percentages were 57% vs. 36%. The number of smokers in the study was however low (n=33) and the differences non-significant. For other secondary endpoints no differences were observed. Conclusion Complementing CR with a mobile device application improved BP during the first months after MI, and non-significant trends towards better exercise capacity and higher smoking cessation rates were observed. Even though the differences were non-significant in our small study sample, they indicate that using eHealth in the form of a mobile device application could clinically benefit post-MI patients participating in CR. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Governmental funding of clinical research within the National Health Services in Sweden.

Abstract Background We have previously shown that complementing traditional cardiac rehabilitation (CR) with a web-based smartphone application designed to support self-control of risk factors can improve secondary prevention outcomes, including lower blood pressure (BP). Purpose To explore possible explanations for better BP control among patients with myocardial infarction (MI) receiving access to a smartphone application as a complement to traditional CR, compared to patients receiving traditional CR alone. Methods Data from a multi-centre randomized controlled trial that included 150 patients with MI (81% men, 60.4±8.8 years) was used. All patients participated in traditional CR. In addition, patients in the intervention group (APP, n=101) had access to the application. Patients received automated positive feedback on normal values and all registered data was viewed by CR nurses twice weekly. As previously reported, APP patients achieved a 9 mmHg larger reduction in systolic BP than usual care (UC) patients at 2-months follow-up (p=0.02). In the current analysis we assessed differences between APP and UC patients in the number of visits and telephone contacts with the CR clinic, number of reported BP measurements and number and type of interventions on account of out-of-range BP during the first 6 months of follow-up, using Mann-Whitney and chi-square tests. Results There was no difference in the median (IQR) number of visits to a CR nurse or physician (APP 2 (2–3) vs UC 2 (2–3), p=0.8) or telephone contacts ((APP 2 (1–4) vs UC 2 (1–4), p=0.8) between the groups. Approximately one in ten telephone contacts were initiated because of BP, with no difference between the groups (p=0.8). Out of 101 APP patients 75 reported BP values through the application, ranging from 1–175 BP values/patient (median 6 (IQR 0–34)). Most measurements (90%) were normal. Grouping clinic visits, telephone contacts due to BP and BP reports through the application as a composite for the number of BP measurements the CR personnel were exposed to during follow-up, there was a significant difference between the groups (APP 9 (4–36) vs UC 3 (2–3), p<0.0001). There was a small non-significant difference between the groups in the proportion of patients where an intervention was performed by the CR nurse on account of out-of-range BP (i.e. medication adjustments, new measurement scheduled) (APP 22% vs UC 12%, p=0.1). Conclusion While CR personnel were exposed to significantly more BP measurements from patients using a self-care focused smartphone application as a complement to traditional CR, most BP measurements reported through the application were normal and there was no difference in the number of interventions performed on account of out-of-range BP values. Automated positive feedback on in-range BP measurements, increased patient responsibility with better adherence to BP lowering medication could be possible explanations to improved BP control. Acknowledgement/Funding The faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden