Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Effectiveness of Pollution Monitoring in Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation

This study, called EPIC-AIR, explores if giving people up-to-the-minute information about local air pollution can help them exercise better and more safely outdoors. It involves people with heart conditions (like heart failure or coronary heart disease) or lung conditions (like asthma, COPD, or interstitial lung disease), as well as healthy volunteers. Everyone will follow a 12-week walking programme using a special app and wear a Fitbit. Half the participants will also get real-time air pollution alerts through the app, helping them decide when and where it's best to walk. The study aims to see if this information reduces their exposure to pollution during exercise and improves their health and well-being, helping to plan larger studies in the future.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Leicester

Enrolment target

Start

01 Oct 2026

Estimated completion

01 Aug 2027

Cardiovascular Disease Asthma COPD Interstitial Lung Disease Due to Systemic Disease Heart Failure Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

What is this study about?

This research study, called EPIC-AIR, is trying to find out if providing real-time air pollution information can help people exercise more safely outdoors. We know that exercise is good for you, especially if you have conditions like heart disease or lung problems. However, exercising when air pollution levels are high might not be ideal.

The study wants to see if giving people access to information about pollution levels in their local area, right when they are about to exercise, can help them make better choices. For example, they might choose a different time of day to walk, pick a route away from busy roads, or adjust how hard they exercise. The main goal is to check if this idea works and if it could reduce how much pollution people breathe in when they're active outside.

Ultimately, this research could help us develop better ways to support people with long-term heart and lung conditions to stay active and healthy, even in areas where air quality can be a concern. It's a first step to see if this approach is helpful before planning a bigger study.

Key takeaways

This study explores if air pollution alerts can make outdoor exercise safer for people with heart/lung conditions.
It involves a 12-week walking programme using a smartphone app and a Fitbit.
Half the participants get real-time local air pollution information and advice via the app.
The aim is to reduce pollution exposure during exercise and potentially improve health.
Your participation could help improve future exercise guidance for many people.

Who may be eligible?

To take part in this study, you need to be an adult aged 18 or older. We are looking for two main groups of people: those with specific long-term health conditions, and healthy volunteers.

If you have a long-term condition, it must be one of the following: asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), interstitial lung disease, coronary heart disease, or heart failure. A doctor must have cleared you to exercise. You’ll also need your own smartphone with internet access and be able to walk outdoors for at least 5 minutes without feeling unsteady.

For everyone, you must be able to follow the study for about 3 months, including wearing a Fitbit device for most of that time. You also need to be able to understand the study information and use the study app. We cannot include anyone who has been told not to exercise by a healthcare professional recently, has certain other health conditions like dementia, severe mental health issues (not including depression or anxiety), epilepsy, or chest pain at rest, or if you are pregnant.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or over?
Do you have asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, coronary heart disease, or heart failure (or are you a healthy volunteer)?
Has your doctor said it's okay for you to exercise?
Do you own a smartphone with internet access?
Can you walk outdoors for at least 5 minutes without feeling unsteady?
Are you willing to wear a Fitbit for most of the study (about 3 months)?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you choose to take part, the study will last about 3 months. First, there will be a 1-week period where we simply monitor your usual activity. After that, you'll be randomly put into one of two groups. Everyone will receive a Fitbit Charge 6 to wear and will follow a 12-week walking exercise programme through an app called P-STEP. This app will give you tips on how to walk more.

If you're in the 'intervention' group, your app will also show you real-time local air pollution levels (for tiny particles and traffic fumes) and suggest when or where might be best to exercise outdoors to avoid the worst pollution. If you're in the 'control' group, you'll use the same exercise app but without the air pollution information. The study will look at the pollution levels you experience during your outdoor walks and how your activity, health, and well-being change.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part could offer some benefits, such as receiving a Fitbit device, a structured walking programme to help you stay active, and potentially a better understanding of how air pollution might affect your exercise choices. For those in the intervention group, this could lead to reduced exposure to pollution during exercise. As with any exercise programme, there's a small risk of discomfort or injury, but the programme is designed to be progressive and safe. There are no major known risks associated with wearing a Fitbit or using the app. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Groby Road
Verified postcode
Leicester, United Kingdom

Common questions

What exactly is 'real-time air quality information'?

It means up-to-the-minute details about the air pollution levels in your local area, which you can see on your phone app.

Will I have to pay for the Fitbit or the app?

No, the study will provide you with a Fitbit Charge 6, and the exercise app is part of the study, so there's no cost to you.

What kind of exercise will I be doing?

You'll be following a progressive walking exercise programme. This means it will gradually get a bit harder as you get fitter.

What if I get into the group that doesn't get pollution information?

You will still receive a Fitbit and the 12-week walking programme. This group helps us understand if the pollution information really makes a difference compared to just the exercise programme.

How often do I need to walk?

The programme will give you guidance, but it's designed to fit into your daily life. The study monitors your activity over the 12 weeks.

How to find out more

James A Donaldson, Ph.D

jad72@leicester.ac.uk +447990571690 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.