Community- or home-based exercise for adults with weakened heart or lungs
Clinical Study Protocol on the Impact of Community-Based Exercise Training on the Exercise Capacity of Patients With Reduced Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Function
This test will see if an eight-week, community- or home-based exercise program can improve heart and lung function in adults 18–85 with reduced cardiopulmonary fitness.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Guangzhou, Guangdong) |
| Trial ID | NCT07154355 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Participants will be assigned to a community- or home-based exercise program or to a non-exercise comparator to compare changes in cardiovascular and pulmonary function. The exercise intervention lasts eight weeks and consists of 40–60 minutes per session, five times weekly, with activities chosen from walking, running, swimming, cycling, hiking, or similar patient-preferred modalities. Exercise intensity is adjusted using each participant's cardiopulmonary exercise test and ongoing monitoring to emphasize safety and adherence. The study aims to establish a feasible community/home fitness program that improves function while reducing the burden of clinic-based rehabilitation.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–85 with documented reduced pulmonary or cardiovascular function who pass a medical screening and have not done regular structured moderate-to-intense training in the past year are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Patients with neuromuscular or skeletal disorders, systemic diseases such as diabetes or cancer, those taking medications that interfere with outcomes, or people already engaged in organized moderate-to-high intensity training are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve cardiopulmonary function, daily exercise tolerance, and make rehabilitation more accessible with less reliance on clinic-based programs.
How similar studies have performed: Previous cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation studies, including some home- and community-based programs, have shown improvements in function and adherence, so this approach has supporting evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients aged 18 to 85 with abnormal pulmonary or cardiovascular function. 2. Individuals who have completed a medical screening form to confirm they are free from illnesses and prescription medications that could impair their ability to complete the required testing and fitness training. 3. Participants who did not engage in structured, systematic moderate-to-intense strength or endurance training during the study period (specifically, not within the previous year). 4. At the onset of the trial, participants were physically active but had never participated in formal exercise more than twice a week. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with neuromuscular or skeletal disorders, or systemic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease. 2. Individuals using medications known to affect health or the interpretation of study results. 3. Participants who have engaged in organized, systematic endurance or strength training of moderate to high intensity within the past year. 4. Patients who decline to participate in the study. 5. Other medical conditions or states that render exercise training inappropriate.
Where this trial is running
Guangzhou, Guangdong
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences) — Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Bin Zeng
- Email: zengbin@gdph.org.cn
- Phone: 13538716788
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.