Using Mobile Technology for Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Review and Framework for Development and Evaluation

I schemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of death inthe United States.1 Cardiac rehabilitation is an evidence-based, cost-effective, multidisciplinary program of individual patient risk factor assessment and management, exercise training, and psychosocial support for patients with heart disease that reduces mortality by 12 % to 34 % (Table 1).2–6 Cardiac rehabilitation is recommended by American Heart Association (AHA) and theAmericanCollege of Cardiology (ACC) Guidelines for patients after myocardial infarction (MI), percu-taneous coronary intervention (PCI), or coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).7 However, cardiac rehabilitation is dramatically underutilized, with only 14 % to 31 % of eligible patients participating.8 Barriers to participation include low referral rates, patient difficulty attending center-based rehabilitation sessions, and cost.9 Recently, an AHA Presidential Advisory called for a reengineering of cardiac rehabilitation to enhance