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Interval Training in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease a Randomized Trial

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Congenital Heart Defects
Interventions
Behavioral: Home based interval training
Registration Number
NCT01671566
Lead Sponsor
Umeå University
Brief Summary

Adults with congenital heart disease have various degrees of impaired exercise capacity compared to healthy controls. Impaired exercise capacity makes everyday activities more difficult and demanding. There are few studies on effect of exercise training in adults with congenital heart disease. The hypothesis of this study is that structured home based exercise training will improve exercise capacity and health status in the studied population.

Detailed Description

The number adults with congenital heart disease is increasing. Thanks to advances in the medical and surgical fields the number of adults with complex congenital heart disease is now higher than the children with corresponding heart disease. Though the long term prognosis is still unknown and continuously changing as new therapeutic options are introduced.

Persons with congenital heart disease have different degrees of impaired exercise capacity compared to healthy controls. Some studies indicate that this population is not sufficiently active to achieve the recommendations for physical activity in preventing acquired heart disease. Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for developing acquired heart disease and other life style diseases as obesity and diabetes. In a population where one or more previous cardiac surgeries are common, the prevention of life style diseases is especially important. Exercise training in heart failure and coronary artery disease is well studied and there are clinical guidelines. Regarding exercise training in adults with congenital heart disease, however,the information is sparse and further studies are needed.

Based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria adults with complex congenital heart disease will be recruited in the Northern Health Care Region in Sweden and in Gothenburg. Before and after the twelve week intervention period the investigators will collect information about cardiopulmonary exercise capacity, health related quality of life, exercise self-efficacy, anxiety and depression. The patients will be randomized to twelve weeks of home based interval training or to a control group. The randomization ratio will be 2:1 (intervention:control). The control group will be instructed to continue with their habitual physical activities. The home based interval training program will be individualized based on the results of the exercise tests.

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of home based interval training on maximal and submaximal exercise capacity, quality of life, exercise self-efficacy, anxiety and depression.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
26
Inclusion Criteria
  • Complex congenital heart disease (e.g.; Tetralogy of Fallot, Transpositions of the great arteries, Ebstein, Eisenmenger, Pulmonary atresia or Tricuspid atresia)
  • Clinically stable without significant change the last 3 months
  • Adult (>18 years)
  • Informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Signs of arrhythmia on exercise ECG or relevant clinical arrhythmia
  • Mental retardation or psychiatric illness affecting the ability of independent decisions
  • Other comorbidity affecting physical activity
  • Other circumstances making participation unsuitable
  • Present strategy of regularly executing physical exercise > 2 times/week in purpose to increase cardiovascular capacity.
  • VO2 peak > 30 ml/kg/min
  • No access to internet

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Home based interval trainingHome based interval training12 weeks home based interval training
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Peak VO2 (ml/kg/min)Before homebased interval exrecise regime and after completion (12 weeks)

Comparison within and between groups

Endurance timeBefore homebased interval exercise regimen and at completion (12 weeks)

at CPET-incremental and constant work rate test at 75% of peak work rate (Watt). Comparison between and within groups.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Peak VO2( ml/kg/min)12 months after completion

Comparison within and between groups

Quality of life12 months after completion

The EQ-5D and SF 36 questionaires will be used to assess Quality of life. Comparison within and between groups.

Physical Activity level12 months after completion

The long self administered version of International Physical Activity Questionaire (IPAQ) will be used to assess physical activity level. Comparison within and between groups.

Response during CPET incremental and constant work rate test at 75% of peak work rate (Watt).Before homebased interval exercise regime and at completion (12 weeks)

(Peak VO2 (l/min) and Iso time, VCO2, VE/VCO2, VE/VCO2-slope, anaerobic threshold, Peak Heart Rate, Heart Rate recovery, Heart Rate response, Peak work rate, Oxygen saturation, Blood pressure, symptoms) Comparison within and between groups.

Anxiety and depression12 months after completion

The hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD-scale) will be used to estimate the incidence of anxiety and depression. Comparison within and between groups.

Endurance time12 months after completion

at CPET incremental and constant work rate at 75% of peak work rate (Watt)

Physical activity levelBefore homebased interval exercise regime and after completion (12 weeks)

The long self administered version of International Physical Activity Questionaire (IPAQ) will be used to assess physical activity level. Comparison within and between groups.

Exercise self-efficacyBefore homebased interval exercise regime and after completion

The Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale will be used. Comparison within and between groups

Response during CPET incremental and constant work rate test at 75 % of peak work rate (Watt).12 months after completion

( Peak VO2 and Iso time(l/min), VCO2, VE/VCO2, VE/VCO-slope, anaerobic threshold, Peak Heart Rate, Heart Rate recovery, Heart rate response, Peak work rate, Oxygen saturation, Blood pressure, symptoms) Comparison within and between groups.

Adverse eventsOnce a week during homebased exercise regime

Complications to training

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Sahlgrenska University hospital

🇸🇪

Gothenburg, Sweden

University Hospital

🇸🇪

Umeå, Sweden

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