Gamified challenges and social support to help people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction be more active
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-11145735 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program uses game-like goals and social incentives to encourage people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction to move more every day.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $788,143 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL174691-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11145735 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction who can walk, are able to use or wear an activity tracker, and are willing to join a behavioral activity program are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with severe mobility impairment, those unable to use a wearable device, or those with unstable medical conditions are unlikely to benefit or may be ineligible.
What this research studies
You would wear an activity tracker that sends your steps and activity to an online platform called Way to Health. The program uses gamification (points, goals, and friendly competition) and social incentives (team-based accountability and feedback) to motivate daily movement. Participants are placed into different groups so the researchers can compare who increases and maintains activity best over several months. The study collects activity data automatically and follows participants after the active program to see if changes last.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help people with HFpEF increase daily physical activity, which may reduce breathlessness, improve fitness, and boost quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials using gamification and social incentives increased physical activity in obese adults and older adults at vascular risk, but this approach has not been widely tested specifically in HFpEF patients.
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
Related research
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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.