Clinical trial No longer in our active list Interventional Ages 40 and up

Personalized exercise program for older adults with sickle cell disease

Official title: Gerofit Exercise Intervention for Older Adults With Sickle Cell Disease (SICKLE-FIT Study)

Run by Duke University · NCT05714098 · Data updated 2026-05-14

This study is no longer in our active list. It may have stopped recruiting or finished. The details below are as of 2026-05-14 and are kept for reference. Check ClinicalTrials.gov for its current status, or see similar studies below.

This study is testing a personalized exercise program for older adults with sickle cell disease to see if it is safe and helpful for them.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages40 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment30 (estimated)
SponsorDuke University
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Durham, North Carolina)
Trial IDNCT05714098 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates for this study are older adults aged 40 and above who have a confirmed diagnosis of sickle cell disease.

Probably not a fit

Patients who are wheelchair-bound, oxygen-dependent, or have severe cognitive impairment may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a personalized exercise training program called Gerofit, specifically adapted for older adults aged 40 and above with sickle cell disease. Participants will undergo the Sickle Cell Disease Functional Assessment at baseline and every three months to monitor their progress. The study will also include interviews to identify barriers and facilitators to exercise, helping to optimize the intervention for better outcomes.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve the physical health and quality of life for older adults living with sickle cell disease.

How similar studies have gone: While the specific adaptation of the Gerofit program for sickle cell disease is novel, similar exercise interventions for chronic conditions have shown promising results in improving patient outcomes.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Have a diagnosis of sickle cell disease (any genotype) confirmed by hemoglobin electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography, or genotyping
* Understand and speak fluent English.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed with moderate or severe cognitive impairment based on ICD-10 codes or report from their outpatient provider
* Unable to self-consent
* Wheelchair-bound
* Successfully treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for SCD
* Have moderate to severe uncorrected visual or auditory impairment
* Oxygen-dependent
* Pregnant
* Have severe avascular necrosis requiring an assist device
* Unstable cardiac disease.

Where it's running

  • Duke University
    Durham, North Carolina, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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  • Newborn Sickle Cell Screening in Mozambique

    We’re testing a three-part plan to help babies in Mozambique get diagnosed early for sickle cell disease and start care quickly.

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  • Optimizing Hydroxyurea in Children with Sickle Cell in Africa

    This study tests whether raising hydroxyurea to a maximum tolerated dose is safe and beneficial for Ugandan children with sickle cell anemia already taking a fixed daily dose.

    Recruiting Phase 1/2 Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati · Kampala · NCT07708714

  • Hematopoietic stem cell editing to treat sickle cell disease

    This study tests whether a patient’s own blood stem cells can be edited to remove the sickle cell triggering gene and then returned to the patient.

    Recruiting Phase 1 Boston Children's Hospital · Boston, Massachusetts · NCT07708350

  • Virtual reality options to help with VOC pain in adults with SCD

    This study tests whether headset-based virtual reality can help reduce pain for adults with sickle cell disease during vaso-occlusive crises treated in an infusion center.

    Recruiting University of Maryland, Baltimore · Baltimore, Maryland · NCT07674277

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.