Clinical trial NCT03043976: Using Step Count to Enhance Daily Physical Activity in Pulmonary Hypertension
Official title: Using Step Count to Enhance Daily Physical Activity in Pulmonary Hypertension
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: TERMINATED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Hypertension, Pulmonary
Keywords: Physical activity
Steps count
Lead sponsor: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2017-02-06
Enrollment: 20
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 19
Maximum age (years): 90
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Intervention model description: Partial crossover. A group of 10 underwent the intervention, a group of 10 was observed for 8 weeks without receiveng any feedback, then underwent the intervention. The main outcome was evaluated as the difference between the end of intervention and baseline (paired data). We did not recuit any patient in arm 3.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This study will collect information about physical activity in patients affected by pulmonary hypertension, through a specific device that can be worn on the wrist, and which measures daily step count. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate whether providing patients with their daily step count can increase their levels of daily activity if they have some basic targets to achieve. Investigators also wish to compare the effects of this approach in increasing daily physical activity, with the benefit gained when a drug therapy for pulmonary hypertension is initiated, in patients that have just been diagnosed.

Detailed description: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a rare and progressive disorder and shortness of breath and fatigue, especially during exercise, are very common symptoms, resulting in a reduced capacity to perform daily activities and in an impaired quality of life. Furthermore, reduced exercise capacity in PH is associated with depression and anxiety disorders. Recent literature reveals a strong association of sedentary time with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, so that the development of therapeutic strategies to avoid this event is pivotal in the management of PH, in addition to the beneficial results of modern medical treatment. Recently the role of exercise and rehabilitation in different respiratory and cardiac conditions has been evaluated in the literature, overtaking the concerns raised in the past that exercise could worsen the condition and thus the progression of these kind of diseases, but just a few studies have been done in patients affected by PH.

International guidelines on pulmonary hypertension recommend avoiding strenuous exercise that leads to distressing symptoms, while encourage low level graded aerobic exercise, such as walking, as tolerated. Nonetheless, little is still known about the effects of lifestyle changes, such as the amount of physical activity that patients can or should practice. Pedometers have been used to enhance the daily physical activity and to improve, when assessed, some prognosis related outcomes, both in healthy subjects and those affected by different pathological conditions, in particular cardiac and respiratory diseases. However, a training model based on step count targets has never been evaluated in PH, to our knowledge. Step counting devices have recently experienced a surge in popularity as a tool for motivating and monitoring physical activity in the general population, especially combined with applications for smartphones, that provide feedback, such as an overview of the data recorded. Thus, it seems reasonable to explore the opportunity to develop a step count based training model to enhance daily exercise in PH patients, through these non-invasive, patient friendly and relatively inexpensive devices.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Able to give informed consent
* Nice Classification Groups 1 and 4 Pulmonary Hypertension (pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension)
* WHO functional class I-IV
* Stable on current medication for 8/52 for group 1 (feedback and goal-setting group) and group 2 (control group)
* For group 3 (newly diagnosed patients), treatment-naïve patients undergoing investigation who are likely to start therapy (based on clinical judgment of the clinician)
* Patients with handheld devices (such as smartphones or tablets) which can run the Study Admin Mobile application.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy: we will screen for this on the basis of the history from the patient, and if she is not sure if she might be pregnant, a pregnancy test will be offered
* Malignant arrhythmias
* Syncope within the last 6 months
* Skeletal or muscle abnormalities prohibiting walking

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in daily physical activity
timeFrame: From baseline to 16 - 25 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in 6MWT
timeFrame: From baseline to 16 - 25 weeks
measure: Change in BNP
timeFrame: From baseline to 16 - 25 weeks
measure: Change in Quality of life
timeFrame: From baseline to 16 - 25 weeks
measure: Long-term effects of training protocol
timeFrame: End of the 8 week period
measure: Comparison between training protocol and initiation of PH treatment in terms of increased physical activity
timeFrame: 5-6 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: London
country: United Kingdom
facility: Hammersmith Hospital
Study officials:
affiliation: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
name: Luke SGE Howard
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
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