Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation for Thoracic Cancers

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen byCarmen Bergom, M.D., Ph.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Other than optimizing medical management of cardiac risk factors, and reducing radiotherapy (RT) dose to the heart, there currently exist no interventions to mitigate or reverse the adverse cardiac effects of RT. Aerobic exercise has been demonstrated to improve patient quality of life, cardiac outcomes, and cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with cancer receiving cardiotoxic systemic therapies, but the effects of aerobic exercise on patients at high risk for radiation induced heart disease (RIHD) is unknown. In addition, home-based cardiac rehabilitation has not been tested in patients with thoracic cancers.

Research Team

Carmen Bergom, M.D., Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Washington University School of Medicine

Eligibility Criteria

Adults with certain thoracic cancers like lung, esophageal, and various lymphomas who are set to receive radiation therapy. They must be able to walk, use a smartphone app for remote monitoring, and not have distant metastatic disease or other severe health issues that would prevent participation in home-based cardiac rehab.

Inclusion Criteria

I am willing to join a home cardiac rehab program and use a smartphone app for monitoring.

Possess a smart phone or tablet capable of supporting teleHeart application

I can take care of myself but might not be able to do heavy physical work.

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Exclusion Criteria

I am unable to walk.

Patient's baseline weight > 300 lbs (due to weight limitations of the scale and bioelectrical impedance device)

Patient on cardiac transplant list or has a ventricular assist device

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Treatment Details

Interventions

Home-based cardiac rehabilitation (Behavioural Intervention)

Trial OverviewThe trial is testing if a home-based cardiac rehabilitation program can help reduce the negative effects on the heart from radiation therapy given for thoracic cancers. Participants will exercise at home and be monitored through an app.

Participant Groups

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Home-based cardiac rehabilitationExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

* The intervention consists of a prescribed course of home-based cardiac rehabilitation: 36 sessions, three times a week, one hour each, over a period of 12 weeks. * Each customized exercise session includes three phases: * a 5- to 10-minute warm-up which consists of stretching, flexibility movements, and aerobic activity which gradually raises the heart rate to the desired level * a conditioning or training phase, which consists of 20 to 45 minutes of continuous or discontinuous aerobic activity * a cool down for 5 to 10 minutes consisting of low-intensity exercise that permits a gradual recovery from the conditioning phase * The patient will complete a brief questionnaire on the teleHeart application after completing each exercise session on how well they tolerated the exercise. The patient's CR team will receive daily updates from the patient's teleHeart application. Based on feedback from the application, the CR team may modify the patient's exercise program going forward.