Using Step Count to Enhance Daily Physical Activity in Pulmonary Hypertension (STEPinPH)

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.

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.

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.

At the baseline, patients will fill a questionnaire about their quality of life (SF36), will perform a 6'walk test (6MWT), will undertake a blood sample (BNP). In the run-in period (1 week) patients will wear an Actigraph GT9X Link device which only displays the time and the battery level; all activity data will be recorded. Then participants will wear an Actigraph GT9X Link device which shows real time data about the number of steps and will upload their data via the Study Admin Mobile application for smartphones/tablets. Patients will be asked to aim for an average specified number of steps/day week by week and will receive a weekly report with results from the previous week and targets to achieve. After 8 weeks, patients will attend visit 2 (6MWT, SF36 and BNP assessment) and will carry on wearing the activated device for 8 weeks receiving weekly feedbacks and targets. After 8 weeks patients will attend visit 3 (6MWD, SF36 and BNP will be assessed) which is the end of the study.

At the baseline, patients will fill a questionnaire about their quality of life (SF36), will perform a 6'WT and will undertake a blood sample (BNP). After a run-in period (1 week) with an Actigraph GT9X Link device disabled from showing the number of steps, patients will wear an Actigraph GT9X Link device which still only displays time and battery level and will upload data via the Study Admin Mobile application for smartphones/tablets without receiving any feedback. After 8 weeks, patients will be assessed (SF36, 6'WT, BNP) and will start to wear a new device enabled to display the daily step count. Patients will be asked to aim for an average specified number of steps/day, receiving a weekly summary of the previous week with targets to achieve week by week. After 8 weeks, patients will be assessed (6'WT, SF36, BNP) and will carry on wearing the device and receiving feedbacks and targets for a further 8 week period, after that patients will be finally assessed (SF36, 6'WT, BNP)

In the week leading up to their inpatient admission for diagnostic investigations, patients who are treatment-naïve will be given the Actigraph GT9X Link device which will only display the time and the charge level of the battery. Patients will be asked, as well, to fill a questionnaire about their quality of life, to perform a 6MWT and a blood sample (BNP). As soon as patients start the drug therapy, patients will wear a second Actigraph GT9X Link device still disabled from showing real time data about the number of daily steps. Participants will not receive any feedback during the whole period and will be asked, as well, to upload the data collected through the remote mobile system. At their first clinical assessment (after about 4 or 5 weeks), 6'WT, BNP and questionnaire about quality of life will be reassessed. If patients are not being started on drug therapy then they will be withdrawn from the study

Assessment of the level of physical activity of PH patients using the Actigraph GT9X Link device that includes a triaxial accelerometer and can be enabled to show on its display the number of steps taken for the day, so that it can also be used by the patients as a common pedometer. Evaluation of the effects of an 8 week step count-based light touch training programme to see if activity can be increased

The principal objective is to demonstrate a difference in the intensity of daily physical activity, measured in activity counts per minute, from the basal period to the last week of the 8-week training programme compared with control

Evaluation of the difference in the 6MWT from the basal period to the end of the 8-week training programme compared with control

Evaluation of the difference in BNP values from the basal period to the end of the 8-week training programme compared with control

Evaluation of the difference in quality of life (assessed by SF36 questionnaire) from the basal period to the end of the 8-week training programme compared with control

Evaluate if the eventual benefit gained after the 8 week training period (measured in activity counts per minute) is maintained, reduced or increased for a further 8 week period (group1+ group 2).

Comparison between training protocol and initiation of PH treatment in terms of increased physical activity

Comparing the efficacy of our training protocol to the effects of the initiation of the PH drug treatment in newly diagnosed patients, in terms of increased physical activity assessed in terms of activity counts.

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

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