Mobile application as a tool for outpatient rehabilitation: experience and outcomes in patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Aim . To assess the effectiveness and safety of remote monitoring of physical rehabilitation using a mobile application in patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in comparison with the traditional model of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Materials and Methods . A total of 150 patients undergoing outpatient rehabilitation after CABG surgery were included in the study. Patients were randomized into three groups: 1) those underwent rehabilitation using a mobile application; 2) those who used pedometers for home-based monitoring of physical activity; 3) those who received standard rehabilitation under the supervision of a healthcare provider at their place of residence. The effectiveness and safety of supervised training were assessed during follow-up clinic visits at 4 and 12 months after CABG surgery by determining clinical and functional indicators, including physical activity levels, quality of life, and the frequency and severity of complications. Results . Remote monitoring of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, conducted at home using a smartphone-based mobile application, and pedometers to dose physical activity without the mobile application demonstrated safety, as confirmed by the absence of destabilization episodes. The use of the mobile application for outpatient rehabilitation monitoring showed comparable effectiveness to the pedometer-based program in achieving target blood pressure levels within one year after CABG surgery (96% and 89%, respectively, compared with 49% without monitoring; p = 0.03). Only the mobile application group demonstrated a significant reduction in resting heart rate (from 71 [CI 64–76] to 65 [CI 62–70] beats per minute). All outpatient rehabilitation programs, whether remotely monitored or not, proved ineffective in achieving target lipid profile values. Conclusion . Remote monitoring in cardiac rehabilitation contributes to improved blood pressure control, reduced heart rate, and increased exercise tolerance within one year after CABG surgery.