Remote cardiac rehabilitation for adolescents with congenital heart disease

Remotely Delivered Cardiac Rehabilitation for Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease

Not applicable Interventional Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City · NCT06015191

This study is testing if live, home-based exercise sessions over video can help teenagers with congenital heart disease improve their heart health and fitness.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment74 (estimated)
Ages12 Years to 19 Years
SexAll
SponsorChildren's Mercy Hospital Kansas City Academic / other
Locations1 site (Kansas City, Missouri)
Trial IDNCT06015191 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the effectiveness of live, home-based cardiac rehabilitation exercise training delivered via video conferencing for adolescents with congenital heart disease. Participants aged 12-19 will be randomly assigned to either a remote cardiac rehab group, which engages in supervised exercise sessions three times a week for 12 weeks, or an active control group receiving informational handouts. The primary focus is to measure improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, while secondary outcomes include cardiac function and lean body mass. The intervention is designed to be interactive, allowing participants to engage with a health coach and peers during sessions.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents aged 12-19 with specific congenital heart disease diagnoses and who have received cardiology clearance for exercise.

Not a fit: Patients who are physically or developmentally unable to participate in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enhance physical fitness and overall health outcomes for adolescents with congenital heart disease.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in telehealth approaches for cardiac rehabilitation, indicating potential success for this novel application in adolescents.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 12-19 years old
2. Male or Female
3. Diagnosed with one of three congenital heart diseases:

   Univentricular heart with Fontan Palliation Tetralogy of Fallot with transannular patch Dextro-transposition of the great arteries with arterial switch operation
4. Primary Cardiology clearance for exercise participation
5. Internet access in their homes
6. Available for in-home exercise between 4-7pm on at least 3 days of the Monday-Friday work week
7. English Speaking
8. Achieving maximal effort on a cardiopulmonary exercise test, defined as RER ≥1.1 and/or in the judgement of the supervising exercise physiologist, a maximal effort was achieved but exercise capacity is limited by musculoskeletal deconditioning.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Physically or developmentally unable to perform outcomes assessments or participate in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity
2. Participating in \> 15 MET-hours per week (mean weekly average over the past 12-months) of organized athletic/exercise activity (not including school physical education class).
3. Height less than 132cm
4. Pregnancy or planned surgery or procedure (excluding outpatient, non-cardiac procedures) within the 12-week study period.
5. Meeting at least 1 exercise test safety or screening criteria on most recent exercise test (pre-study) or baseline outcomes visit exercise test
6. Presence of significant cardiac dysfunction that would impair safe participation in moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise
7. Significant changes baseline echocardiogram or most recent clinical echocardiogram (from past clinical echocardiogram) such as decrease in ventricular and/or valvar function, new obstruction, or any new structural abnormalities
8. Uncontrolled or poorly controlled asthma
9. Presence of implanted cardioverter-defibrillator
10. Pacemaker with rate-responsive function initiated
11. Reliance on ventricular assist device
12. Prescribed milrinone medication
13. Listed for heart transplantation
14. Active engagement in hormone replacement for gender transition

Where this trial is running

Kansas City, Missouri

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Congenital Heart Disease in ChildrenExerciseCardiac RehabilitationPhysical ActivityTelehealth
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.