A Mobile Health Intervention in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (mHealth)

This study proposes the use of a mobile health intervention (utilizing a smart phone app) to encourage increased exercise in PAH patients. The study will be a randomized trial to examine feasibility of an mHealth (mobile device) Fitbit Charge HR and cell phone application intervention to improve step counts and increase participants activity level as compared to no intervention. The Fitbit Charge Heart Rate (HR) monitors activity and the cell phone application provides encouragement notifications to half the subjects while the other half do not receive encouragements.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; Heritable Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Smartphone Text Messaging; Device: Fitbit Charge HR

Detailed Description

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have severely reduced exercise capacity and reduced quality of life. At diagnosis, most PAH patients are New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III with symptoms of fatigue and shortness of breath with less than ordinary activity. Physical activity confers multiple benefits relevant to PAH pathophysiology including improvements in endothelial function, energy metabolism, and right ventricular (RV) function. Increasing physical activity is highly efficacious in PAH, resulting in six-minute walk distance (6MWD) improvement that exceeds the effect of medications.

The goal of this proposal is to adapt and test the feasibility of our mHealth intervention to increase physical activity in a geographically diverse PAH population. In secondary aims, we will assess conventional PAH trial outcomes (6MWD, quality of life) and physiologic mechanisms by which increasing activity may improve exercise capacity.

The investigator hypothesizes that an mHealth intervention is feasible and will increase physical activity in subjects with PAH. This study proposes a randomized trial of unblinded step tracking with smart texts tracking for 12 weeks. Participants will wear a display-free triaxial accelerometer, which will continuously transmit data to a compatible smartphone (owned by 75% of our PAH population). Efficacy endpoints have been selected to mirror FDA criteria for drug approval in PAH. The following aims will be tested:

Aim 1: To test the feasibility of an mHealth intervention to increase step counts in patients with PAH. Fifty PAH patients will be randomized to the mHealth intervention or usual activity for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint will be daily step count during Week 12. Secondary endpoints will assess step target achievement, daily activity time, and aerobic time. The fidelity of data collection and text transmission will also be assessed.

Aim 2: To examine the effect of an mHealth intervention on exercise capacity and quality of life. Participants will complete a six minute walk test and the emPHasis-10 questionnaire at baseline and 12 weeks. The primary endpoint will be six minute walk distance. Secondary endpoints will be emPHasis-10 quality of life scale score, Borg dyspnea score, and resting heart rate.

Aim 3: To examine the effect of an mHealth intervention on mechanisms of improved exercise capacity. Subjects will undergo echocardiography, blood draw, and body composition assessment. The primary endpoint will be RV longitudinal strain. Secondary endpoints will be the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, lean muscle and fat mass, and B-type natriuretic peptide.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 49
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Tennessee
    • Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232
      • Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged 18 or older.
2. Diagnosed with idiopathic, heritable, or associated (connective tissue disease, drugs, or toxins) pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) according to World Health Organization consensus recommendations.
3. Stable PAH-specific medication regimen for three months prior to enrollment. Subjects with only a single diuretic adjustment in the prior three months will be included.
4. Subjects must own a Bluetooth capable modern smartphone capable of receiving and sending text messages and an active data plan.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prohibited from normal activity due to wheelchair bound status, bed bound status, reliance on a cane/walker, activity-limiting angina, activity-limiting osteoarthritis, or other condition.
2. Pregnancy.
3. Diagnosis of PAH etiology other than idiopathic, heritable, or associated.
4. Forced vital capacity <70% predicted.
5. Functional class IV heart failure.
6. Requirement of > 1 diuretic adjustment in the prior three months.
7. Preferred form of activity is not measured by an activity tracker (swimming, yoga, ice skating, stair master, or activities on wheels such as bicycling or rollerblading).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: TRIPLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Smartphone Text Messaging; Group receives personalized, health coaching via "smart" text messages.	Device: Smartphone Text Messaging; A HIPPA compliant text messaging platform is linked to the Fitbit Application Program Interface. Real time activity data will be transmitted from the subject's smartphone to our mHealth platform via cellular network. Subjects will receive 3 texts/day in sync with their preferred morning, lunch, and evening leisure schedule (defined at enrollment). These texts will use personal, disease-specific, and provider information to deliver 2 types of messages customized to the current step count and sent in equal proportion. Messages are designed to facilitate self-awareness, reinforce step targets, and link physical activity with a reward or memorable cue.; Other Names: mHealth activity intervention; Device: Fitbit Charge HR; The Fitbit Charge HR tri-axial accelerometer will be used to continuously gather data on physical activity, heart rate, and sleep. This device provides feedback in units of activity (steps, stairs climbed, activity time, and exercise time) and heart rate (per second when active, per 5 seconds when inactive). It has been validated against research devices in free-living conditions and is relatively inexpensive.; Other Names: Digital Activity Tracker
OTHER: No Smartphone Text Messaging; Group does not receive personalized, health coaching via "smart" text messages.	Device: Fitbit Charge HR; The Fitbit Charge HR tri-axial accelerometer will be used to continuously gather data on physical activity, heart rate, and sleep. This device provides feedback in units of activity (steps, stairs climbed, activity time, and exercise time) and heart rate (per second when active, per 5 seconds when inactive). It has been validated against research devices in free-living conditions and is relatively inexpensive.; Other Names: Digital Activity Tracker

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Daily Step Count	Change from baseline mean daily step count at week 12.	Baseline to 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Six Minute Walk Test Distance	Change from baseline of six minute walk test distance (meters) at week 12.	Baseline to 12 weeks
Right Ventricle (RV) Strain	Change from baseline of RV free wall longitudinal strain at week 12.	Baseline to 12 weeks
Percentage of Days Participants Met Their Daily Step Count Goal	All participants were provided with an Fitbit Charge Heart Rate mobile device to monitor daily step counts, activity time, and aerobic time. The daily goal was communicated via text to the intervention group and was the baseline step count average for the control group. Increased daily goal attainment indicates increased activity level	Baseline to 12 weeks
Daily Aerobic Time	Change in minutes of activity per day between Week 12 and Baseline	Baseline to 12 weeks
Change From Baseline at Week 12 in emPHasis-10 Questionnaire Score	Quality of life was assessed using the emPHasis-10 questionnaire, a disease-specific self-administered 10-question questionnaire designed for routine assessment of health-related quality of life in pulmonary hypertension. Total score can range from 0 to 50, with higher scores indicating a worse quality of life. Change from Baseline was calculated as the value at Week 12 minus the value at Baseline. The Week 12 value was defined as the last assessment at or prior to Week 12.	Baseline to 12 weeks
Change From Baseline on the SF-36 Mental Component Summary (MCS) Score	SF-36 consists of 36 questions measuring 8 health domains: physical functioning, bodily pain, role limitations due to physical problems, role limitations due to emotional problems, general health perceptions, mental health, social function, and vitality. The patient's responses are solicited using Likert scales that vary in length, with 3-6 response options per item. The SF-36 can be scored into the 8 health domains named above and two overall summary scores: physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores. The domain and summary scores range from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better levels of function and/or better health	Baseline to 12 weeks
Change From Baseline to Week 12 in Borg Dyspnea Score	The Borg Dyspnea score is a self-rating scale to evaluate the severity of dyspnea (from 0 "no shortness of breath at all" to 10 "very, very severe / maximal" shortness of breath). The scale was completed at the beginning and conclusion of each 6-minute walk test at baseline and at Week 12. Median change from baseline in scoring was reported.	Baseline to 12 weeks
Resting Heart Rate	Change in heart rate between Week 12 and Baseline	Baseline to 12 weeks
Total Lean Mass	Change from baseline lean mass at week 12.	Baseline to 12 weeks
Insulin Resistance	Insulin resistance measured by the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance insulin resistance score (HOMA-IR) utilizing the formula: fasting plasma glucose (mmol/l) times fasting serum insulin (mU/l) divided by 22.5. Low HOMA-IR values indicate high insulin sensitivity, whereas high HOMA-IR values indicate low insulin sensitivity (insulin resistance).	Baseline to 12 weeks
BNP	Change from baseline B-type natriuretic peptide level at week 12.	Baseline to 12 weeks
Change From Baseline on the SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) Score	SF-36 consists of 36 questions measuring 8 health domains: physical functioning, bodily pain, role limitations due to physical problems, role limitations due to emotional problems, general health perceptions, mental health, social function, and vitality. The patient's responses are solicited using Likert scales that vary in length, with 3-6 response options per item. The SF-36 can be scored into the 8 health domains named above and two overall summary scores: physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores. The domain and summary scores range from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better levels of function and/or better health	Baseline to 12 weeks
Minutes of Moderate-vigorous Activity	Change in minutes between Week 12 and Baseline	Baseline to 12 Weeks
Visceral Fat Volume	Change in fat volume between Week 12 and Baseline	Baseline to Week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Collaborators: Johns Hopkins University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Evan Brittain, MD, MSc, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bravata DM, Smith-Spangler C, Sundaram V, Gienger AL, Lin N, Lewis R, Stave CD, Olkin I, Sirard JR. Using pedometers to increase physical activity and improve health: a systematic review. JAMA. 2007 Nov 21;298(19):2296-304. doi: 10.1001/jama.298.19.2296.
• Mereles D, Ehlken N, Kreuscher S, Ghofrani S, Hoeper MM, Halank M, Meyer FJ, Karger G, Buss J, Juenger J, Holzapfel N, Opitz C, Winkler J, Herth FF, Wilkens H, Katus HA, Olschewski H, Grunig E. Exercise and respiratory training improve exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with severe chronic pulmonary hypertension. Circulation. 2006 Oct 3;114(14):1482-9. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.618397. Epub 2006 Sep 18.
• Martin SS, Feldman DI, Blumenthal RS, Jones SR, Post WS, McKibben RA, Michos ED, Ndumele CE, Ratchford EV, Coresh J, Blaha MJ. mActive: A Randomized Clinical Trial of an Automated mHealth Intervention for Physical Activity Promotion. J Am Heart Assoc. 2015 Nov 9;4(11):e002239. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.115.002239.
• Pugh ME, Buchowski MS, Robbins IM, Newman JH, Hemnes AR. Physical activity limitation as measured by accelerometry in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Chest. 2012 Dec;142(6):1391-1398. doi: 10.1378/chest.12-0150.
• Hemnes AR, Silverman-Lloyd LG, Huang S, MacKinnon G, Annis J, Whitmore CS, Mallugari R, Oggs RN, Hekmat R, Shan R, Huynh PP, Yu C, Martin SS, Blaha MJ, Brittain EL. A Mobile Health Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Chest. 2021 Sep;160(3):1042-1052. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.04.012. Epub 2021 Apr 17.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): August 2, 2017
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): April 24, 2020
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): April 24, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 21, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 27, 2017
• First Posted (ACTUAL): March 3, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): June 25, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 23, 2021
• Last Verified: June 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypertension; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB #162004

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No