Sedentary Behavior Reduction in Pregnancy Intervention Study (SPRING)

This pilot and feasibility study will enroll newly pregnant women at risk for high sedentary behavior (SED) and elevated APO risk (n=53) and will randomize them to either a SED reduction intervention or control. Research aims include to: 1) demonstrate our ability to decrease SED and increase standing and light activity in pregnant women; 2) evaluate feasibility; and 3) gather preliminary effects on clinical outcomes including APOs, cardiometabolic risk factors, well-being, and fetal outcomes.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pregnancy Complications; Sedentary Behavior
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Sedentary Behavior Reduction; Behavioral: Information on Physical Activity Recommendations during Pregnancy

Detailed Description

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for 1 in 4 deaths among women of reproductive age. Decreasing adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO), e.g. hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth, could reduce this burden. APOs have serious immediate health consequences and are recognized by the AHA as major risk factors for future CVD. Yet, APOs are hard to prevent and treat, with a 20% prevalence that is increasing in the U.S. Moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) reduces APOs, but less than 1 in 4 pregnant women achieve guidelines and pregnant women report unique barriers such as fatigue, pain, medical restriction, and concern for the baby.

Sitting, or 'sedentary behavior' (SED) is a novel risk factor for CVD. Yet, sparse research and no U.S. guidelines exist for SED in pregnancy. Our recent AHA-funded cohort study in pregnant women (n=120) objectively measured SED and MVPA during each trimester. While MVPA was not related to outcomes, pregnant women with high vs. low SED across pregnancy had greater odds of APO and gave birth to babies at a reduced gestational age. Considering that decreasing SED may be more feasible given the barriers to MVPA, the investigators hypothesize that a SED reduction intervention may be especially promising for reducing APOs and improving cardiovascular health for women and their children.

Given the dearth of SED research, trials, or guidelines for pregnant women, the investigators propose to use our preliminary data on behavioral targets, correlates, and determinants of SED during pregnancy to adapt our previously successful SED reduction interventions. This pilot and feasibility study will enroll newly pregnant women with high SED and elevated APO risk (n=53) and randomize them to either a SED reduction intervention or control (2:1 ratio). Research aims include to: 1) demonstrate our ability to decrease SED and increase standing and light activity in pregnant women; 2) evaluate feasibility; and 3) gather preliminary effects on clinical outcomes including APOs, cardiometabolic risk factors, well-being, and fetal outcomes.

Participants will complete three assessment visits, one in each trimester, including 1-week monitoring of SED and activity patterns with a thigh-worn activPAL and blood pressure measurement using a standard protocol. Other outcomes will be assessed by self-report and medical record review after the participant gives birth. Participants randomized to the intervention arm will be provided with a fitbit, a sit-stand desk attachment, and will complete virtual health coaching visits every two weeks throughout pregnancy to facilitate reduced SED, increase standing, and increased stepping throughout the day.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 51
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15261
      • University of Pittsburgh, Department of Health and Human Development, 32 Oak Hill Court, Room 220

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• <13 w 0 d pregnant
• at risk for high levels of sedentary behavior: i) work at a desk job ≥ 30 hrs per week; ii) work at a desk job <30 hrs per week and report sitting on non-work days 1/2 the time or more; iii) do not work but report sitting 3/4 of the time or more; iv) self-reports <6000 steps per day
• ≥1 risk factor for APO: nulliparity, history of APO, prepregnancy BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, or age ≥35 yr
• plan to deliver at UPMC facility or willing to provide medical record release for prenatal care and birth records

Exclusion Criteria:

• chronic hypertension (resting blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg or antihypertensive medication use)
• pre-gestational diabetes
• self-report of inability to walk 2 blocks or climb a flight of stairs
• other serious medical condition in pregnancy for which exercise is contraindicated (e.g., underlying cardiac disease, severe anemia, chronic bronchitis, or poorly controlled hyperthyroidism or seizure disorder)
• unable to provide physician's consent to participate
• participating in another health-related intervention study that could affect study outcomes

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Sedentary Behavior Reduction Intervention; Biweekly virtual health coaching, height-adjustable work station, and fitbit - targetting decreasing sedentary behavior, increasing standing, and increasing steps per day. Printable information on physical activity recommendations also provided.	Behavioral: Sedentary Behavior Reduction; Participants receive bimonthly behavioral health coaching, a sit-stand desk attachment or table, and an activity prompter if they do not already have one (e.g., fitbit, as needed).; Behavioral: Information on Physical Activity Recommendations during Pregnancy; Participants in the study will receive educational materials provided one time by email about the currently recommended physical activity during pregnancy.
Active Comparator: Usual Care Control; Printable information on physical activity recommendations only	Behavioral: Information on Physical Activity Recommendations during Pregnancy; Participants in the study will receive educational materials provided one time by email about the currently recommended physical activity during pregnancy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sedentary Time	objectively measured using activPAL3 micro	Randomization to study completion, about 6 months
Standing	Objectively measured using activPAL3 micro	Randomization to study completion, about 6 months
Steps Per Day	Objectively measured using activPAL3 micro	Randomization to study completion, about 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Recruitment	Participants screened for eligibility	Active recruitment phase, about 1 year
Retention	Number of randomized intervention and control participants remaining at each follow up timepoint	Beginning of randomization to 2nd trimester and 3rd trimester
Intervention Adherence to Behavioral Coaching Contacts	Percentage of intervention contacts completed. This includes behavioral lessons and check-ins.	Randomization to study completion, about 6 months
Outcome Assessment Rates	Number of participants that have complete objective sedentary time and other outcome data	Second and third trimester visit. Two participants were removed from this analysis due to miscarriage after randomization.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh
• Collaborators: American Heart Association
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Bethany B Gibbs, University of Pittsburgh

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 4, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): June 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 23, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 13, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): October 26, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 20, 2024
• Last Verified: December 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pregnancy; Behavioral Intervention; Randomized Clinical Trial
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Complications
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY20110193; AHA 20TPA35490099 (Other Grant/Funding Number: American Heart Association)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: The investigators do not have plans to share data at this time and will not be collecting biospecimens as part of this protocol. In the future, reasonable requests for de-identified data from other scientists will be considered. Such data will be shared with approval by the Study PI and other investigators, as appropriate.

Drug and device information, study documents

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