Frequently Asked Questions
New version of MyHeart Counts App now available for download at the App Store
What is MyHeart Counts?
MyHeart Counts is a research app designed to study activity and heart health through your phone. It is also one of the largest cardiovascular research trials ever conducted. Stanford University scientists plan to use data gathered from app users to improve methods of preventing and treating heart disease.
How much does it cost?
MyHeart Counts is a free app.
Why did Stanford launch this study?
Physical activity is known to be one of the best “drugs” to prevent heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other diseases. Both smartphones and wearable devices can now keep track of how active we are throughout the day. We have the opportunity to directly measure activity in people throughout the world to improve our understanding of the relationship between activity and heart health. It will also let us study ways to help people improve their activity and heart health over time, which could prevent more heart disease around the world.
How will this study help those who don’t have Apple devices?
Although MyHeart Counts is currently only available on Apple devices, Stanford is changing that soon. A new version of MyHeart Counts is expected to be released on Android in 2022. Additionally, a new study, My Fitness Counts has been released on both iOS and Android. Learn more here.
What type of information will the app collect?
At the beginning of the study we will ask you some survey questions and have you use your phone (or wearable device if you have one), to collect activity data for 7 days. You will also be asked to do a Physical Activity Readiness questionnaire to see whether you should consult with your doctor about your ability to increase activity or assess fitness. If you are able, you will be asked to do a 6-minute walk test, then enter information about risk factors and blood tests to determine your risk score. The app will check back every 3 months to have you update your data. You may also be asked to try different ways to improve your activity and heart health.
What does my Activity Circle mean?
The circle shows estimates of the proportion of time you have spent in different levels of activity, based on sensor data from your phone or wearable device. It also estimates your “active minutes” which combines moderate and vigorous activities, where the recommendation is 30 minutes per day or 150 minutes per week. The dashboard also shows your steps for the day. Note that this is intended to be informational, as accurate assessment of every type of activity from sensors is an ongoing area of research and development. Your data can help us refine these estimates and better understand the relationship between activity and heart health.
What do my Heart Age and Risk Scores mean?
Both your “heart age” and risk scores are based on risk calculations developed as part of the official “2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk”[1]. The 2013 guidelines use age, gender, race, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other risk factor information to provide personalized estimates of 10-year risk of heart attack or stroke (for those aged 40-79) and lifetime risk (for those 20-59). For comparison, 10-year and lifetime risk scores are also provided for someone of the same age, gender, and race with optimal risk factors (total cholesterol 170mg/dL, HDL 50mg/dL, systolic blood pressure 110mmHg, no smoking, no diabetes, no medication for high blood pressure).
What is the 6-Minute Walk Test?
This is a walking test that has been used extensively as an easy-to-perform measure of fitness. The study begins with a Physical Activity Readiness questionnaire, which advises you about talking to your doctor before increasing activity or assessing fitness. We are also implementing a feature to give you the typical distance expected for your age, gender, height, and weight. Heart rate data are made available if you use a wearable device capable of recording heart rate while walking.
Will the app monitor what I eat?
No. There are survey questions about diet, but the study does not ask to track or log what you eat.
How much time will it take to participate?
It should take less than 10-15 minutes per day for the first week to do the surveys and tests. You are encouraged to continue using the app in between the 3-month time points.
How long will the study last?
We encourage participants to continue this study for as long as they would like. Receiving data over a long period of time is extremely beneficial for this research. However, all the data we receive helps—and you can withdraw your consent and stop participating at any time.
Changing human behavior is an uphill battle. What gives you hope that technology will be useful?
For most of us, we only see our doctor or nurse a few times per year but our phone is with us every day. This can help with measuring our daily activities plus give us access to heart information 24/7, wherever you are. We can also get feedback on different ways to help improve our daily behaviors to keep our heart healthy.
Will I have access to Stanford physicians if I participate?
MyHeart Counts was developed by Stanford clinicians and scientists for research and educational purposes only. It does not provide access to a Stanford physician and is not a substitute for clinical care. The data collected in the study is not reviewed by a physician for medical evaluation. Consult your physician for medical questions.
What happens to my data?
The data gathered through the MyHeart Counts app on your iPhone will go to a secure computer where your name will be removed and replaced with a random code to protect your privacy. Your coded data will then go to a secure computer run by Sage Bionetworks, a non-profit research organization, and will be combined with data from other participants to be analyzed. Study participants will have the option in the app to share your coded data broadly with qualified researchers or share with Stanford researchers and its partners only. Whichever option you choose, your participation provides a rich database for research scientists at Stanford to help advance the understanding of the health of the human heart.
Will my information be secure?
Yes. Your name will be removed before the data goes to the computer for storage and then later used for analysis. Only researchers, not Apple, will have access to the data.
Why should I participate?
Because you have a heart, and every heart counts! Everyone is at risk for heart disease and stroke and it’s the #1 killer in the world. You can help us gather information to help better understand and prevent heart disease while learning more about your own health and risk factors and areas for improvement.
Are you looking for certain types of participants?
No, all adults over 18 are welcome to join. The more people who participate — from healthy individuals to those with heart disease— the more we can learn together. Right now the app is in English and only available in the US, but we plan to enroll globally and have more languages in the future. It also initially requires an iPhone 5s, 6, or 6 Plus with the latest software (iOS8), as these can measure your activity without draining the battery.
Does anyone make money off my information?
No. The data will be used for research only.
Is Stanford the only one doing this?
Stanford is part of this initial project to use the iPhone and ResearchKit, with a focus on cardiovascular health. There are other institutions, including the Massachusetts General Hospital, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Sage Bionetworks, studying other diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, and Parkinson's.
What happens if I change my mind about being in this study?
You may withdraw your consent and discontinue participation at any time. We will not collect or store any new data if you choose to withdraw, but we cannot go back and delete the information we already collected.
Where do I go for technical support?
For technical support, please see Questions, Feedback and Support. On this page, we have included a list of technical issues we are currently addressing.