Assessment of walking behavior of patients with coronary artery disease with smartphone use

Aim: Atherosclerotic heart disease is the most common cardiovascular disease caused by inflammation and lipid accumulation mostly in large vessels. Exercise has positive effects in cardiovascular patients. We aimed to evaluate the alteration in exercise habits after the revascularization procedure in patients with coronary artery disease. Material and method: The study included 52 patients with atherosclerotic heart disease and 52 patients without coronary artery disease as control group. Inclusion criteria for CAD was defined as severe stenosis detected by coronary angiography and revascularized. Patients' walking step counts were determined using pedometer programs with smart phone applications. Results: The average age of the patient group was 54.73±5.07 years, while the average age of the control group was 52.92±5.15 years. The number of steps in the first week, second week and total steps of the patients included in the study was found to be higher in the patient group and a statistically significant difference was found between these values (p= 0.01; 0.002; 0.006, respectively). Although the number of steps in the first week, second week and total number of steps of the female subjects included in the study was higher in the female patient group compared to the female subjects in the control group, it was not statistically significant. Male subjects included in the study were found to have a higher number of steps at one week, two weeks and total number of steps, and a statistically significant difference was found when these values were compared ((p= 0.04; 0.005; 0.003, respectively). Conclusion: In our study, step counts were significantly higher in CAD patients. When the number of steps was compared in terms of gender, the number of steps in the male population was found to be higher. The number of steps in male patients with CAD was significantly higher than in the control group when the genders were compared within themselves.