RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

HIIT in Youth With Congenital Heart Disease (MedBIKE)

This study is called MedBIKE and focuses on young people aged 10-18 who have had treatment for congenital heart disease (a heart condition present from birth). Many young people with this condition find it harder to exercise. This research wants to test a new, home-based exercise program using a special interactive exercise bike called MedBIKE. The MedBIKE program uses high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which involves short bursts of intense exercise followed by rest. The study aims to see if this program can significantly improve how well participants can exercise, their physical activity levels, and their overall quality of life. The goal is to help these young people become more active and feel better.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Alberta

Enrolment target

Start

22 Nov 2022

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2026

Congenital Heart Disease Pediatric ALL

What is this study about?

Congenital heart disease (often called CHD) is a heart problem that someone is born with. It's the most common birth defect, affecting about 1 in every 100 babies. While many people with CHD have treatments, some still find it harder to exercise than others. This can sometimes lead to health problems later in life and affect how much they enjoy being active every day. We know that exercise can be really helpful for adults with heart conditions, helping them to exercise better and live healthier lives.

This study, called MedBIKE, is looking at a new way to help young people (aged 10 to 18) with treated CHD. It uses a special exercise routine called High-Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT. This involves short periods of very active exercise followed by short rest times. The exercise is done on an interactive bike called a MedBIKE, which can be used at home and is linked to video games. This makes the exercise more fun and engaging.

The main goal of this research is to see if an 8-week MedBIKE program can significantly improve how well young people with CHD can exercise. We also want to see if it helps them be more physically active generally, improves their quality of life, and helps their blood vessels work better. We even want to check if these improvements last for up to a year after the program finishes. If successful, this program could offer a great way for more young people with CHD to improve their health and well-being from the comfort of their own homes.

Key takeaways

This study is for young people (10-18) with treated congenital heart disease.
It tests a home-based exercise bike program called MedBIKE.
The goal is to improve exercise ability and quality of life.
The exercise method is High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).
It aims to see if benefits last long-term.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for young people aged 10 to 18 who have been treated for a moderate-to-complex congenital heart disease. It's important that your heart specialist agrees that exercising is safe for you and that you don't have any ongoing heart problems that would make exercise risky.

There are a few reasons why someone might not be able to join. For instance, if you've already been part of a similar heart exercise program, or if your home doesn't have space for the special exercise bike. Also, if you have certain other medical conditions, or if your doctor has advised against strenuous exercise, you wouldn't be able to take part. It's also important to be able to speak English to communicate clearly during the exercise sessions through the telemedicine link.

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 between 10 and 18 years old?
Have you been treated for a moderate-to-complex congenital heart disease?
Has your heart specialist said it's safe for you to exercise?
Do you have space in your home for a small exercise bike?
Can you speak and understand English?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you would be asked to use a special MedBIKE exercise bike for eight weeks from your home. The bike uses high-intensity interval training (HIIT) combined with video games. We'd likely measure your exercise ability and other health markers at the start of the study, after the eight weeks, and then again after a longer period, possibly up to a year, to see if the benefits last. These measurements would involve tests to see how active you are, surveys about your quality of life, and checks on your blood vessels. All visits would be carefully explained to you ahead of time, and you would not be taking any medication as part of this study. The total duration of your active involvement with the exercise program would be eight weeks, with follow-up appointments extending up to one year.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might help you improve your exercise ability, your overall physical activity levels, and how you feel in your daily life. The MedBIKE program is designed to be safe, but as with any exercise, there's always a small risk of feeling tired, sore muscles, or in very rare cases, more serious heart-related issues. Your heart specialist needs to confirm it's safe for you to exercise before you can join. You are completely free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

University of Alberta
Verified postcode
Edmonton, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is congenital heart disease (CHD)?

CHD is a heart condition that someone is born with, meaning their heart developed differently before birth.

What is the MedBIKE?

The MedBIKE is a special exercise bike that connects to video games and can be used at home. It's designed to help you do high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

What is HIIT?

HIIT stands for High-Intensity Interval Training. It’s an exercise method where you do short bursts of intense exercise followed by brief periods of rest or lower-intensity activity.

Will I have to go to a hospital for this study?

No, this is a home-based study. You would use the MedBIKE in your own home, but there would be check-ups and measurements that would likely happen at a clinic or hospital.

What if I don't like playing video games?

The MedBIKE links to video games to make exercise more fun and engaging, but the focus is on the exercise itself. Further details would be provided if you consider taking part.

How to find out more

Rae Foshaug

rae.foshaug@albertahealthservices.ca 7804077499 Official trial record

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