A meta-analysis of controlled trials reveals that digital health interventions substantially enhance physical activity adherence among patients with established cardiovascular disease. The hierarchical analysis of intervention effectiveness demonstrates that the combination of smartphone applications and wearable devices produces the highest efficacy outcomes, followed by wearables with integrated feedback systems.
These findings align with recommendations from major cardiology societies, which increasingly recognise digital tools as evidence-based components of secondary prevention strategies. The data suggest that multimodal approaches—leveraging both active engagement through apps and passive monitoring via wearables—create synergistic effects that exceed the efficacy of single-modality interventions. For cardiac rehabilitation programmes seeking to optimise patient adherence and clinical outcomes, the integration of combined digital strategies represents a validated, scalable approach to supporting long-term lifestyle modifications in heart disease populations.
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