aBSTRACT

Background: Exercise prescription is one of the essential cornerstones for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, many type 2 diabetes mellitus patients have been reported as not engaging in proper exercise regimens due to the absence of assessment of their cardiorespiratory fitness level.

Aim: To test the accuracy of a mobile application in measuring heart rate and walking distance during a six-minute walk test among diabetic patients.

Methods: We performed a validation study of a mobile application in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Thirty-five participants performed a six-minute walk test using a mobile application. The distance estimated by the application was compared to the measured distance. In addition, the heart rate before the test and at the end of 6 minutes measured by the application was compared to the measured heart rate by pulse oximetry. The mobile application work with contact photoplethysmography in measuring heart rate and global positioning system in measuring walking distance.

Results: Walking distance and heart rate measurement using a mobile application correlated well with measured distance (r=0.898) and pulse oximetry, r=0.943 for heart rate before the test and r=0.953 for heart rate at the end of 6 minutes. The accuracy of the heart rate and walking distance measurements by application, reported in mean absolute error were 4.14±0.94bpm for heart rate measurement before the test, 4.46 ±0.93 for heart rate measurement at the end of 6 minutes, and 27.58 ±6.20 meter.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that an Android-based smartphone application yields accurate heart rate and walking distance measurements during a six-minute walk test. Thus, a mobile application may be suitable for self-assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Keyword:  Cardiorespiratory fitness; exercise; mobile application; six-minute walk test; type 2 diabetes mellitus