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Little is known about the physical activity of patients after cardiac surgery. This study was designed to assess this activity using a connected bracelet. In this prospective, monocentric study, patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were offered to wear an electronic bracelet. The main objective was to measure the physical activity recovery.
Secondary objectives were the predictors of the correct use of the monitoring system, of the physical recovery and, if any, the relationship between physical activity and out-of-hospital morbidity. One hundred patients were included. No predictor of noncompliance was found. After cardiac surgery, wearing a smart bracelet recording daily steps is simple, well tolerated and suitable for measuring physical activity. Standard patients achieved around daily steps 2 months after discharge.
Rehabilitation after cardiac surgery improves physical and psychological outcomes. A recent Cochrane review reported improved quality of life, reduced hospital readmissions and mortality [ 1 ]. Core components of cardiac rehabilitation include patient assessment, exercise training, diet counseling, risk factor control, patient education and psychosocial management with exercise training [ 2 , 3 ]. In addition, promoting early training exercise, such as daily walking, may reduce muscle atrophy and recovery time [ 4 , 5 ].
Hospital discharge is getting earlier and earlier after cardiac surgery [ 6 ]. Patient follow-up is a concern as major complications mainly occur within the first month. Decreased physical activity is an independent predictor for a complicated postoperative recovery in patients aged 65 years or older undergoing elective cardiac surgery [ 7 ]. The use of connected bracelets and smartwatches is increasing in medicine following significant improvements into both hardware and software components [ 8 ].
