Preoperative risk predictor for cardiac surgery using a smartphone dynamometer
Official title: Preoperative Risk Prediction of Postoperative Complications for Elective Cardiac Surgery using At-home Smartphone Dynamometry
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11335676 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smartphone app that turns your phone into a hand-grip test to help predict surgical risks before elective heart surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $199,896 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AG084975-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335676 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults preparing for elective cardiac surgery who can use a smartphone app.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unable to use a smartphone or those not undergoing heart surgery may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project uses a smartphone-based hand grip strength test to identify frailty and cardiopulmonary reserve before elective cardiac surgery. The app uses the phone’s vibration motor and sensors to measure grip strength, aiming to predict chances of postoperative complications. If successful, doctors could use the results to tailor preoperative conditioning and perioperative care, potentially catching problems early and guiding recovery plans. The study focuses on adults undergoing heart surgery and seeks to reduce complications by enabling accessible, home-friendly prehab and monitoring.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach works, patients may have safer surgeries and smoother recoveries thanks to better prehab and early complication detection.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies link weaker grip strength to higher surgical risk, but this project tests a smartphone-based method for measuring it.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Edward Jay — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Wang, Edward Jay
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using smartphone technology to predict risks of complications after heart surgery
This study is testing a new smartphone app that helps you check your hand grip strength at home, so doctors can better understand your fitness level before elective heart surgery and help you recover more safely.
-
AI-powered system to improve teamwork in cardiac surgery
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This grant funds research to understand why some people develop delirium after heart surgery when they also have acute kidney injury.
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Statistical methods to link high-dimensional heart-surgery data with outcomes
This grant tests advanced data methods to find links between detailed intraoperative heart-surgery measurements and patient outcomes after procedures like CABG.
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Wearable ultrasound patch to monitor heart health after pediatric heart surgery
A small, disposable ultrasound patch worn on babies and young children after heart surgery will measure heart function and blood pressure in real time, aiming to catch problems early.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.