Treadmill Aerobic Training and Quality of Life in Anemic Females (ATT-QoL-IDA)
11 de junio de 2026 actualizado por: Mohamed Salah Saleh, Cairo University
Aerobic Treadmill Training Improves Exercise Tolerance and Health-Related Quality of Life in Young Adult Females With Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of an 8-week structured treadmill aerobic training program on physical fitness and health-related quality of life in young adult females diagnosed with mild-to-moderate iron deficiency anemia.
Sixty participants are randomly allocated into two equal groups of thirty.
Group A (Experimental) receives standard daily oral iron therapy combined with a supervised moderate-intensity treadmill exercise program 3 times per week (30-40 minutes at 60-70% maximum heart rate).
Group B (Control) receives standard oral iron therapy with no structured exercise.
The study primary outcome measures the Physical Fitness Index (PFI) using the modified submaximal 3-minute Harvard Step Test, alongside secondary quality of life outcomes (SF-12 questionnaire), to prove that active cardiovascular training reverses physical deconditioning where iron supplements alone fall short.
Descripción general del estudio
Estado
Terminado
Condiciones
Intervención / Tratamiento
Descripción detallada
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is deeply associated with marked fatigue, diminished neuromuscular efficiency, and cardiorespiratory deconditioning. While standard medical management relies purely on pharmacological iron supplements to normalize hematological indices, this approach does not directly restore functional aerobic capacity or skeletal muscle utilization efficiency.
This study employs a parallel-group randomized controlled trial design (1:1 allocation) comparing two approaches over 8 consecutive weeks:
- Experimental Group (Group A, n=30): Standard physician-prescribed oral iron supplementation plus a structured moderate-intensity treadmill aerobic exercise program (3 sessions per week, progressing from 35 to 40 minutes at 60-70% max HR), alongside standard nutrition guidelines (the '2-Hour Rule' for iron absorption and daily Blackstrap Molasses).
- Control Group (Group B, n=30): Standard physician-prescribed oral iron supplementation and nutritional guidelines alone, with no structured exercise program.
Functional physical fitness is evaluated at baseline and post-treatment using the Physical Fitness Index (PFI) derived from the submaximal 3-minute Harvard Step Test. Health-related quality of life is assessed via the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), evaluating both Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) dimensions. The research evaluates whether systematic physical therapy/aerobic work is a mandatory adjuvant to reverse physical deconditioning in young females.
Tipo de estudio
Intervencionista
Inscripción (Actual)
60
Fase
- No aplica
Contactos y Ubicaciones
Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.
Ubicaciones de estudio
-
-
Damietta Governorate
-
New Damietta, Damietta Governorate, Egipto, 34517
- Outpatient Clinics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Horus University
-
-
Criterios de participación
Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.
Criterio de elegibilidad
Edades elegibles para estudiar
- Adulto
Acepta Voluntarios Saludables
No
Descripción
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age between 18 to 28 years.
- Biological females.
- Clinically diagnosed with mild-to-moderate Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA), documented by laboratory Complete Blood Count (CBC) showing Hemoglobin (Hb) levels strictly between 9.0 and 12.0 g/dL, and serum ferritin levels ranging from 15 to 150 ng/mL.
- Hemodynamically stable and medically cleared to safely participate in moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.
- Regularly receiving physician-prescribed standard medical care (e.g., oral iron supplementation)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Severe anemia (Hemoglobin levels below 9.0 g/dL).
- Pregnancy or lactation.
- Chronic respiratory diseases, including bronchial asthma or COPD.
- Acute or chronic cardiovascular instability (e.g., severe arrhythmias, uncontrolled hypertension, or structural heart disease).
- Affected by chronic diseases or adhering to regular medication regimens (other than prescribed iron).
- Neurological or musculoskeletal disorders that mechanically limit the ability to walk on a treadmill or perform the step test safely.
- Experiencing acute illness, systemic infection, menorrhagia, irregular menstruation, or fever at the time of the study.
- Active participation in other structured, vigorous athletic training programs.
- Cognitive impairment affecting patient cooperation or the ability to understand the study questionnaires
Plan de estudios
Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.
¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?
Detalles de diseño
- Propósito principal: Tratamiento
- Asignación: Aleatorizado
- Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación paralela
- Enmascaramiento: Ninguno (etiqueta abierta)
Armas e Intervenciones
Grupo de participantes/brazo |
Intervención / Tratamiento |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Aerobic Training Group (Group A)
30 female patients who received an 8-week structured treadmill aerobic exercise training program (3 sessions/week, 35-40 minutes/session at 60-70% of Age-Predicted Maximum Heart Rate) in addition to standard medical care (oral iron supplementation) and a standardized nutritional protocol.
|
Supervised progressive treadmill walking program for 8 weeks, 3 times/week.
Each session lasted 35-40 minutes including 5 minutes warm-up (at 2.0-3.0 km/h), 25-30 minutes active aerobic walking at 60-70% of age-predicted max HR, and 5 minutes cool-down.
All participants in both groups received standard physician-prescribed medical care (including oral iron supplementation) and a standardized, culturally tailored, cost-effective nutritional protocol rich in heme and non-heme iron with absorption enhancers (e.g., Vitamin C) and restriction of iron inhibitors.
|
|
Comparador activo: Control Group (Group B)
30 female patients maintained on standard medical care (oral iron supplementation) and the standardized nutritional protocol, without participating in structured exercise.
|
All participants in both groups received standard physician-prescribed medical care (including oral iron supplementation) and a standardized, culturally tailored, cost-effective nutritional protocol rich in heme and non-heme iron with absorption enhancers (e.g., Vitamin C) and restriction of iron inhibitors.
|
¿Qué mide el estudio?
Medidas de resultado primarias
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
|
Physical Fitness Index (PFI)
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline, Post-intervention (8 weeks)
|
A numerical metric used to quantify cardiovascular efficiency and aerobic tolerance, mathematically derived from the post-exercise heart rate recovery profile following the submaximal 3-minute Modified Harvard Step Test (MHST) using the formula: PFI = (Duration of exercise in seconds x 100) / (2 x (PR1 + PR2 + PR3)).
Higher scores indicate better cardiovascular efficiency.
|
Baseline, Post-intervention (8 weeks)
|
|
Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) - SF-12 Physical Component Summary (PCS)
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline, Post-intervention (8 weeks)
|
The physical component summary of the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) to evaluate physical quality of life, functional mobility, and physical role limitations.
Scores are calculated using a standardized scoring algorithm; higher scores indicate better physical well-being (range 0 to 100).
|
Baseline, Post-intervention (8 weeks)
|
|
Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) - SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS)
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline, Post-intervention (8 weeks)
|
The mental component summary of the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) to evaluate mental well-being, psychological domains, and emotional status.
Scores are calculated using a standardized scoring algorithm; higher scores indicate better mental well-being (range 0 to 100).
|
Baseline, Post-intervention (8 weeks)
|
Medidas de resultado secundarias
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
|
Estimated Maximal Oxygen Consumption (VO2max)
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline, Post-intervention (8 weeks)
|
Systemic oxygen utilization capacity indirectly estimated using 1-minute post-exercise recovery heart rate data extracted from the submaximal 3-minute Modified Harvard Step Test (MHST) using the formula: VO2max (ml/kg/min) = 65.81 - (0.1847 x HRrecovery).
Higher values indicate better aerobic capacity.
|
Baseline, Post-intervention (8 weeks)
|
|
Fatigue Severity (FACIT-Fatigue)
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline, Post-intervention (8 weeks)
|
Subjective severity of pathological fatigue measured using the 13-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) scale.
Patients rate statements regarding fatigue over the past 7 days on a 4-point Likert scale.
Total scores range from 0 to 52, where higher scores indicate less fatigue and better quality of life.
|
Baseline, Post-intervention (8 weeks)
|
Colaboradores e Investigadores
Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.
Patrocinador
Colaboradores
Investigadores
- Silla de estudio: Nesreen Gharib Elnahas, Prof. Dr., Cairo University
- Director de estudio: Farag A. Ali, Prof. Dr., Cairo University
- Director de estudio: Asmaa Mohammed Sharabash, Assistant Professor, Cairo University
- Investigador principal: Mohamed Salah Saleh, M.Sc., Cairo University
Fechas de registro del estudio
Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.
Fechas importantes del estudio
Inicio del estudio (Actual)
15 de noviembre de 2025
Finalización primaria (Actual)
15 de enero de 2026
Finalización del estudio (Actual)
15 de enero de 2026
Fechas de registro del estudio
Enviado por primera vez
11 de junio de 2026
Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad
11 de junio de 2026
Publicado por primera vez (Actual)
16 de junio de 2026
Actualizaciones de registros de estudio
Última actualización publicada (Actual)
16 de junio de 2026
Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad
11 de junio de 2026
Última verificación
1 de junio de 2026
Más información
Términos relacionados con este estudio
Palabras clave
Términos MeSH relevantes adicionales
Otros números de identificación del estudio
- P.T.REC/012/006070
Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)
¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?
NO
Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio
Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.
No
Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.
No
Esta información se obtuvo directamente del sitio web clinicaltrials.gov sin cambios. Si tiene alguna solicitud para cambiar, eliminar o actualizar los detalles de su estudio, comuníquese con register@clinicaltrials.gov. Tan pronto como se implemente un cambio en clinicaltrials.gov, también se actualizará automáticamente en nuestro sitio web. .