Key Points
Question
Are interventions using wearable physical activity (PA) trackers, including
accelerometers, fitness trackers, and/or pedometers, associated with
improved PA levels among people with cardiometabolic conditions?
Findings
In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 38 randomized clinical trials
with 4203 participants, interventions with wearable PA trackers were
associated with significantly increased PA levels during approximately
15-weeks follow-up; interventions (particularly pedometers) with additional
components, such as consultations with health care professionals, were
associated with increased PA levels.
Meaning
The findings suggest that use of wearable PA trackers (especially pedometers)
is associated with increased PA levels among people with cardiometabolic
conditions when combined with additional intervention components, such as
face-to-face consultations, but these PA level improvements may remain below
the targets set by clinical recommendations.