Use of mHealth to Increase Physical Activity for Patients Recently Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure: a Randomized Clinical Trial

The aim of this trial is to determine if a mobile application that promotes physical exercise in the follow-up of patients recently hospitalized with acute heart failure can improve exercise capacity after 6 months and physical activity levels compared to the standard follow-up.

A randomized clinical trial will be conducted with 100 consecutive patients aged +18 years, hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure in a tertiary referral hospital who own a mobile phone compatible with MyPlan and access to Wi-Fi or mobile data. At discharge, patients will be randomly assigned in two groups; the intervention group will be followed with a smartphone application to promote physical activity, whereas the control group will take responsibility in their adherence to exercise recommendations. Main study variables will be functional capacity after 6 months, which will be evaluated using the six minute walking test, and physical activity levels, using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The study will be analyzed using the intention-to-treat principle. The project has been authorized by the local committee for ethics in clinical research.