Heart monitor

Australian scientists have teamed a mobile phone with a miniature heart monitor and a GPS device to tackle the low participation rates of heart patients in cardiac rehabilitation.

Dr Charles Worringham of Queensland University of Technology's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation said the unique 'Cardiomobile' monitoring system, developed by Gold Coast company Alive Technologies, was being further developed and trialled together with QUT under an ARC Linkage Grant.

'The program allows people who have been in hospital for a heart attack or heart surgery to undergo a six-week walking exercise rehabilitation program wherever it's convenient, while having their heart signal, location and speed monitored in real time,' Dr Worringham said.

'We are trying this approach because 80 per cent of cardiac patients never complete recommended hospital outpatient rehabilitation programs, despite the fact that they cut recurrent heart attacks by 17 per cent, substantially reduce deaths, prevent re-hospitalisation, and improve both function and quality of life.'