Longitudinal Changes in Exercise Capacity in Children and Young Adults With Sickle Cell Anemia

The purpose of this study is to use comprehensive exercise testing to examine longitudinal changes in exercise capacity over a 2 year period in children and young adults with sickle cell anemia.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sickle Cell Anemia

Detailed Description

Although the burden of sickle cell anemia (SCA) on affected individuals is significant, few studies have examined the influence of having SCA on such measures of physical function as exercise capacity. Moreover, the physiologic basis of poor physical functioning in children with SCA is unknown and has not been studied extensively. The purpose of this proposal is to use cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to gain a comprehensive understanding of longitudinal changes in exercise capacity, and the effect of poor exercise capacity on quality of life in children and young adults with SCA. The specific aims of this project are to: 1) Measure peak oxygen consumption (VO2), the reference standard for exercise capacity, in children and young adults with SCA classified by primary pathophysiologic contributor to their decreased exercise capacity, and 2) compare results of this exercise test with the results of previously completed exercise tests to determine longitudinal changes in exercise capacity. These aims will be performed in 60 subjects with SCA and 30 matched controls who participated in a previous study, IRB# 2009-13659; "The Physiologic Assessment of Exercise Capacity in Pediatric Sickle Cell Anemia". In a secondary analysis, we will also study the participants quality of life using a set of validated questionnaires. This study is essential because it will address several areas of exercise capacity, including the longterm effects of physiologic contributors to exercise limitation, that remain fundamental knowledge gaps in SCA.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 35

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
      • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 8 years to 21 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Sickle cell anemia patients followed at Children's Memorial Hospital. Healthy controls without sickle cell anemia or sickle cell trait are recruited through flyers posted in Children's Memorial Hospital.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age 8 to 21 years old; AND
2. Hb SS or S-β0 thalassemia disease, confirmed by hemoglobin analysis; AND
3. Previously participated in ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01527799

Exclusion Criteria:

1. inability to perform maximal testing due to physical limitation (e.g. stroke or avascular necrosis); OR
2. history of exercise-induced syncope or arrhythmias. Subjects will wait at least 2 weeks following any vaso-occlusive pain episode and 12 weeks following any disease-related complication requiring transfusion support. Individuals on hydroxyurea will be eligible. A total of 30 controls without SCA or sickle cell trait will be matched for age, sex and race and recruited from the siblings, friends or relatives of subjects enrolled on this study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Subjects with sickle cell anemia; 60 subjects with sickle cell anemia will be enrolled on the study.
30 healthy controls; 30 controls without sickle cell anemia or sickle cell trait will be enrolled on the study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
VO2 max on cardiopulmonary exercise test	Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Quality of life questionnaires	Baseline
Echocardiogram	Baseline
Dual Energy X-ray Absorbtiometry	Baseline
Pulmonary Function Test	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
• Collaborators: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Robert I Liem, MD MS, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 11, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): April 11, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 13, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2012
• First Posted (Estimated): March 20, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 13, 2024
• Last Verified: December 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: exercise testing; Sickle cell anemia; cardiopulmonary disease
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Hematologic Diseases; Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital; Anemia, Hemolytic; Hemoglobinopathies; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Anemia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2011-14565; 1K23HL094376 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)