Congenital Heart Disease Physical Activity Lifestyle Study V.2

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Heart Defects, Congenital; Cardiovascular Disease Other
• Interventions: Behavioral: Physical Activity Monitoring; Behavioral: Tailored Exercise Prescription; Behavioral: Healthy Lifestyle Education; Behavioral: Physical Activity Lifestyle Intervention Informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior

• Registration Number: NCT06003023
• Lead Sponsor: Jamie Jackson

Brief Summary

The Congenital Heart Disease Physical Activity Lifestyle Intervention Study (CHD-PALS) V.2 seeks to determine the efficacy of a lifestyle intervention program for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with congenital heart disease (CHD). This trial was adapted from the original CHD-PAL trial to continue improving cardiovascular outcomes for transition-aged CHD survivors.

Detailed Description

Current estimates indicate more than 2 million individuals in the United States have CHD. CHD survivors are now living well into adulthood, including those with moderate and complex forms of CHD, who previously did not survive childhood. However, adult CHD survivors are now encountering cardiovascular comorbidities, such as coronary disease and hypertension, costing more than $3.16 billion annually in hospitalizations and resulting in premature death. The benefits of physical activity for preventing coronary artery disease and other cardiac comorbidities are well-known. For CHD survivors, the benefits of physical activity for preventing morbidity and premature mortality have also been emphasized. Despite strong evidence for physical activity preventing and treating acquired cardiovascular comorbidities among CHD survivors, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with CHD do not meet recommended activity levels. The CHD-PAL intervention aims to provide individualized guidance on safe forms of physical activity that is delivered by trained allied health interventionists.

The CHD-PAL intervention is informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) which has been used as a framework for lifestyle interventions, including among adults with heart failure and adolescents. Additionally, the CHD-PAL intervention implements goal-setting (or developing action plans) and self-monitoring, both of which are key for enacting the behavior within the TPB.

Investigators will randomize (1:1) 144 AYAs (ages 15-25) with moderate and complex CHD who spend \<=30 minutes/day in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) to 1 of 2 arms: CHD-PAL or attention control (Control). Both arms will receive a Fitbit® and a tailored exercise prescription. Those in CHD-PAL will also receive a 20-week videoconferencing-administered intervention that includes 9, 20 to 30-minute sessions designed to increase positive attitudes towards, subjective norms for, and perceived control for engaging in physical activity. Self-monitoring and goal-setting will also be encouraged to help enact behavior change. Controls will receive the same number/frequency of videoconferencing contacts to discuss the Fitbit and exercise prescription, as well as general healthy living, without addressing the TPB hypothesized mechanisms. Controls will also not be directed to self-monitor or engage in goal-setting. All participants will receive text messages from interventionists to either reinforce session content and inquire about progress towards goals (CHD-PAL) or to remind participants to wear the Fitbit (Control). Randomization will be stratified by gender and age using randomly varying block sizes of 4 to 6. MVPA, as measured with a research-grade accelerometer, will be assessed at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T3; 20 weeks after baseline), interim follow-up (T4; 20 weeks post-intervention), and follow-up (T5; 40 weeks post-intervention). TPB mechanisms will be similarly assessed, with the addition of an interim assessment during the intervention (T2; 10 weeks after baseline). Cardiorespiratory fitness (peak volume of oxygen consumption (VO2) and metabolic equivalent (METs)), as assessed via stress testing, will be measured at T1 and T3 as exploratory secondary outcomes.

The primary aim is to determine the efficacy of the CHD-PAL intervention on change in time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for AYAs with moderate and complex CHD. The secondary aim is to explore change in the TPB mechanisms and their relevance to change in MVPA. The tertiary aim is exploring the impact of CHD-PAL on cardiorespiratory fitness.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-07-18
• Study First Submitted: 2023-08-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-08-17
• Study First Posted: 2023-08-21
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-02
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-04
• Primary Completion: 2026-04-01
• Study Completion: 2027-06-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 144

Inclusion Criteria

• Between the ages of 15-25 years
• Diagnosed with moderate or complex structural CHD
• Actively receiving care from a cardiologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH) or Ohio State University (OSU)

Exclusion Criteria

• Unable to speak and read proficiently in English
• Have a diagnosis of a genetic syndrome that impacts multiple organ systems
• Have cognitive impairments that would interfere with completing study measures
• Have been engaged in a formal exercise program within the past 6 months,
• Have participated in the intervention arm of the previous CHD-PAL Study
• Have undergone open-heart surgery or had a valve replacement in the last 3 months
• Are unable to complete an exercise stress test using a treadmill
• Are pregnant
• Are prohibited to engage in at least moderate levels of physical activity by their cardiologist
• Engage in >30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day, on average per accelerometer
• Have contraindications for exercise based on an exercise stress test (e.g., exercise-induced arrhythmias or evidence of cardiac ischemia)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Congenital Heart Disease Physical Activity Lifestyle (CHD-PAL) Intervention	Physical Activity Lifestyle Intervention Informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior	In CHD-PAL, participants will receive a Fitbit and a tailored exercise prescription, as devised from their baseline exercise stress test results. They will also meet with a health coach for 9 virtual sessions over a period of 20 weeks. The content will focus on cognitive behavioral strategies, grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, to increase physical activity and healthy living. Participants in the intervention arm will also receive text motivational messages relevant to session content, as well as reminders to wear their Fitbit.
Living Well with Congenital Heart Disease (LIV-CHD) Intervention	Physical Activity Monitoring	In LIV-CHD, participants will receive a Fitbit and a tailored exercise prescription, as devised from their baseline exercise stress test results. They will also meet with a health coach for 9 virtual sessions over a period of 20 weeks. The content will focus on how to use the Fitbit along with health education pertinent to living a healthy lifestyle (e.g., sleep hygiene, stress management). Goal-setting and other cognitive behavioral strategies for health behavior change will not be discussed in this arm. Participants in the attention control arm will also receive text messages reminding them to wear their Fitbit.
Congenital Heart Disease Physical Activity Lifestyle (CHD-PAL) Intervention	Physical Activity Monitoring	In CHD-PAL, participants will receive a Fitbit and a tailored exercise prescription, as devised from their baseline exercise stress test results. They will also meet with a health coach for 9 virtual sessions over a period of 20 weeks. The content will focus on cognitive behavioral strategies, grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, to increase physical activity and healthy living. Participants in the intervention arm will also receive text motivational messages relevant to session content, as well as reminders to wear their Fitbit.
Living Well with Congenital Heart Disease (LIV-CHD) Intervention	Tailored Exercise Prescription	In LIV-CHD, participants will receive a Fitbit and a tailored exercise prescription, as devised from their baseline exercise stress test results. They will also meet with a health coach for 9 virtual sessions over a period of 20 weeks. The content will focus on how to use the Fitbit along with health education pertinent to living a healthy lifestyle (e.g., sleep hygiene, stress management). Goal-setting and other cognitive behavioral strategies for health behavior change will not be discussed in this arm. Participants in the attention control arm will also receive text messages reminding them to wear their Fitbit.
Living Well with Congenital Heart Disease (LIV-CHD) Intervention	Healthy Lifestyle Education	In LIV-CHD, participants will receive a Fitbit and a tailored exercise prescription, as devised from their baseline exercise stress test results. They will also meet with a health coach for 9 virtual sessions over a period of 20 weeks. The content will focus on how to use the Fitbit along with health education pertinent to living a healthy lifestyle (e.g., sleep hygiene, stress management). Goal-setting and other cognitive behavioral strategies for health behavior change will not be discussed in this arm. Participants in the attention control arm will also receive text messages reminding them to wear their Fitbit.
Congenital Heart Disease Physical Activity Lifestyle (CHD-PAL) Intervention	Tailored Exercise Prescription	In CHD-PAL, participants will receive a Fitbit and a tailored exercise prescription, as devised from their baseline exercise stress test results. They will also meet with a health coach for 9 virtual sessions over a period of 20 weeks. The content will focus on cognitive behavioral strategies, grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, to increase physical activity and healthy living. Participants in the intervention arm will also receive text motivational messages relevant to session content, as well as reminders to wear their Fitbit.
Congenital Heart Disease Physical Activity Lifestyle (CHD-PAL) Intervention	Healthy Lifestyle Education	In CHD-PAL, participants will receive a Fitbit and a tailored exercise prescription, as devised from their baseline exercise stress test results. They will also meet with a health coach for 9 virtual sessions over a period of 20 weeks. The content will focus on cognitive behavioral strategies, grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, to increase physical activity and healthy living. Participants in the intervention arm will also receive text motivational messages relevant to session content, as well as reminders to wear their Fitbit.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA)	Baseline to Weeks 20, 40, and 80	Number of minutes spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity as measured by an accelerometer.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Physical Activity Enjoyment/Engagement Scale (Attitudes)	Baseline to Weeks 10, 20, 40, and 80	18-item measure of enjoyment and dislike of physical activity in which the participant currently engages. Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale with a positive attitude (e.g., I enjoy it) and negative attitude (e.g., I hate it) towards physical activity on each end.
Physical Activity Norms Measure (Social Norms)	Baseline to Weeks 10, 20, 40, and 80	5-item measure of perceptions of subjective norms of physical activity (e.g. "Members of my family think I should be physically active regularly"). An additional item was added to assess norms of cardiologist. Original item wording of "during my free time on most days" was changed to "regularly." Participants are presented with a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree." One item ("Compared to others of your age and sex, mark how active you are.") is measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "Much less active" to "Much more active."
Affective Attitudes for Physical Activity Scale (Attitudes)	Baseline to Weeks 10, 20, 40, and 80	4-item measure of affective physical activity attitudes using bipolar adjectives on a 7-point Likert scale (i.e., enjoyable-unenjoyable, boring-interesting, pleasant-unpleasant, stressful-relaxing).
Family and Partner Support for Physical Activity Engagement Measure (Social Norms)	Baseline to Weeks 10, 20, 40, and 80	39-item measure asking participants to indicate "None," "Rarely," "A few times," Often," "Very often," and "Does not apply," when rating the extent to which family (i.e., parents, siblings) and friends provided support for physical activity in different contexts within the past 3 months. This measure has been modified to include items for partners.
Perceived Control for Physical Activity Engagement Measure (Perceived Control)	Baseline to Weeks 10, 20, 40, and 80	5-item measure of perceived control for engaging in regular physical activity. Wording was adapted to use "physical activity" instead of "exercise". Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale with a negative perception of control (e.g., Very little control) and positive perception of control (e.g., Complete control) of physical activity engagement on each end.
Exercise Confidence Survey (Perceived Control)	Baseline to Weeks 10, 20, 40, and 80	12-item questionnaire assessing health-related self-efficacy in adjusting physical activity behaviors. The original questionnaire has items for self-efficacy in diet behaviors, which have been removed for the purpose of this study. Wording has also been modified to reflect "physical activity"/"physically active" language. Items are measured on a 5-point Likert scale from "I know I cannot" to "I know I can" with an additional option of "Does not apply."

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Nationwide Children's Hospital; 🇺🇸 Columbus, Ohio, United States