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June 12, 2026European Journal of Preventive CardiologyOpen Access

Patient-centered wearable-integrated rehabilitation program for patients with heart failure: a multicenter randomized controlled trial

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Key result

App-based exercise fails to improve peak VO2 over standard exercise in heart failure.

  • MD 0.23
  • 95% CI -0.56 to 1.02
  • P=0.561
  • n=100

Why the study?

Exercise training is key for heart failure, but participation in and adherence to home-based regimens are frequently inadequate.

Does an app-based exercise support program improve peak oxygen uptake in patients with heart failure?

Population

100 patients with HF (NYHA I–II) at three university hospitals in Japan

Comparison

App-based exercise support program vs standard exercise prescriptions

Design

Investigator-initiated, open-label, multicenter randomized controlled trial

Follow-up

24 weeks

Authors

YKY KatsumataKeio UniversityKYK O K I YamaokaKeio UniversityKDK Y O H E I DaigoKeio University

Discussion

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Implication

App-based exercise does not improve peak VO2 versus standard prescriptions in HF; challenges efficacy claims and leaves open adherence or durability questions.

Key Points

  • This trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a wearable-integrated exercise app for heart failure patients.
  • Multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial across three university hospitals in Japan.
  • Patients with heart failure were assigned to either an app-based exercise program or standard exercise prescriptions.
  • Participants completed resistance training and maintained step goals over 24 weeks, with a primary endpoint of peak VO2 change.
  • Peak VO2 changes at 12 weeks showed no significant difference (0.23 mL/kg/min, 95% CI, −0.56 to 1.02; p=0.561).
  • Grip strength improvements were significant over 12 and 24 weeks in both groups.
  • In the per-protocol set, at 24 weeks, there was a significant difference in peak VO2 (0.93 mL/kg/min, 95% CI: 0.02 to 1.84; p=0.045).

Study Design

Type

RCT (n=100)

Blinding

Open-label

Randomization

1:1

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Does an app-based exercise support program improve peak oxygen uptake in patients with heart failure?

P
Population
100 patients with heart failure (NYHA I-II), median age 63 years, followed for 24 weeks.
I
Intervention
App-based exercise support program integrating wearable devices with real-time activity monitoring, interactive feedback, and algorithm-based goal setting. Included resistance training using video content 3 days per week and maintaining 2000-3000 steps per day at an intensity greater than target heart rate over 24 weeks.
C
Comparator
Standard exercise prescriptions.
O
Outcome
Change in peak oxygen uptake (VO2) at 12 weeks.surrogate

Main Result

Mean Difference: 0.23 (95% CI -0.56–1.02)

p-value: p=0.561

A wearable-integrated app-based exercise program did not significantly improve peak VO2 at 12 weeks compared to standard exercise prescriptions in patients with heart failure, though it may improve muscle strength.

Cite This Study

Katsumata et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in Heart failure (n=100). App-based exercise support program vs. Standard exercise prescriptions was evaluated on Change in peak oxygen uptake (VO2) at 12 weeks (MD 0.23, 95% CI -0.56 to 1.02, p=0.561). An app-based exercise program did not significantly improve change in peak oxygen uptake at 12 weeks compared to standard exercise in heart failure patients (difference 0.23 mL/kg/min; p=0.561).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2bd1386550ea4541ffe94chttps://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwag249.039
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Patient-centered medical tools for sustained motivation in cardiac rehabilitation of patients with heart failure: protocol of a multicenter randomized controlled trial (EXERCISE-HF trial)2025 · 4 citations
  2. 2Establishing a cardiac training group for patients with heart failure: the “HIP-in-Würzburg” study2021 · 10 citations
  3. 3Testing the Recruitment Frequency, Implementation Fidelity, and Feasibility of Outcomes of the Heart Failure Activity Coach Study (HEALTHY): Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial2024 · 5 citations
  4. 4Personalized app-based coaching for improving physical activity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction patients compared with standard care: rationale and design of the MyoMobile Study2025 · 2 citations
  5. 5Effect of a Home-Based Mobile Health App Intervention on Physical Activity Levels in Patients With Heart Failure2022 · 43 citations