Effect of a personalised mHealth home-based training application on physical activity levels during and after centre-based cardiac rehabilitation: rationale and design of the Cardiac RehApp randomised control trial

Many patients lapse into a physically inactive lifestyle within months after cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programme completion. A mobile-health (mHealth) home-based training application can be used to intensify and/or prolong the CR programme to induce long-lasting improvements of habitual physical activity levels. This study will assess the effect of an additional home-based training module during CR and post-CR on habitual physical activity levels among coronary artery disease patients. A total of 132 patients (>18 years old) will be recruited in an 18-week randomised controlled trial with four arms: (1) 6 weeks centre-based CR (ie, standard care), (2) 6 weeks combined centre-based+mHealth home-based CR, (3) 6 weeks centre-based CR followed by 12 weeks mHealth home-based CR, (4) 6 weeks combined centre-based+mHealth home-based CR followed by 12 weeks mHealth home-based CR. The intervention groups will receive a daily and personalised exercise training using a smartphone application (Virtual Training) in addition to and/or as extension of the centre-based CR programme. The participants will be assessed prior to the centre-based CR programme, after completion of the 6-week CR programme and after the 12 weeks extension. Primary outcome will be objectively measured habitual physical activity levels expressed as moderate to vigorous intensity activities (min/week). Secondary outcome parameters include sedentary behaviour, physical fitness (estimated VO 2 max), handgrip strength, cardiovascular risk profile, quality of life and cardiac anxiety scores. The findings of the Cardiac RehApp study will provide insight into the added value of a personalised mHealth home-based training application on physical activity levels during and after centre-based CR. Trial registration number: NL72182.091.019.