Gamified and social incentives to boost activity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Gamification and Social Incentives to Increase Adherence to Physical Activity Among Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11411478 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A randomized trial tests whether gamified rewards and social support help people with HFpEF exercise more and stay active.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $704,590 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL174691-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411478 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with HFpEF who are able to engage in regular physical activity and use wearable-tracking technology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unable to participate in regular physical activity or unable to use wearable devices may not benefit.
What this research studies
People with HFpEF often feel breathless and tired, making regular exercise hard. This trial uses a smartphone-based platform to give small rewards and social cues to encourage consistent activity, tracked by wearables. If successful, it could offer a practical way to improve daily activity and potentially reduce symptoms in HFpEF patients. The study builds on prior findings that behavioral incentives can raise physical activity in other conditions and adapts them for HFpEF care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience easier daily activity and better exercise adherence, potentially improving symptoms and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Similar gamification approaches increased activity during and after trials in other populations, supporting potential benefit here.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fanaroff, Alexander Craig — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Fanaroff, Alexander Craig
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.