Remote Cardiac Rehab for Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease

This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effectiveness of live, in-home, group-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) exercise training compared to standard care (active) control. Participants will include adolescents (age 12-19 years) with one of three congenital heart disease (CHD) diagnoses: Fontan (single ventricle) circulation, Tetralogy of Fallot, or dextro-transposition of the great vessels. Following baseline outcomes testing, participants will be computer randomized (with equal stratification by CHD diagnosis and biologic sex) to either the remote cardiac rehab (RCR) group (n=~37) or the active control group (n=~37). Participants randomized to the RCR group will participate in 12-weeks of live-supervised exercise training (36 sessions total) from their respective homes led by a trained health coach via telehealth video technology. RCR participants will initially engage in a 2-week ramp-up period (1-1 or small groups, 6-sessions total) with a live health coach, followed by 10-weeks of group-based (3-5 participants, 30 sessions total) exercise training where participants will be able to interact with the health coach and other participants. Participants in the RCR group will be asked to attend and participate in exercise sessions 3 days per week for 45-minutes. Exercise session intensity will be consistent with a heart rate of 60-75% of their VO2peak, will consist of a mix of flexibility, aerobic, and anaerobic exercise, and will be facilitated by a small set of exercise equipment (e.g., resistance bands, cones, medicine balls) provided to participants. Participants randomized to the active control group will be provided handouts that describe exercises consistent with the physical activity recommendations for youth. The total intervention period for both groups will be 12-weeks. Primary, secondary, and exploratory outcomes will be measured at baseline and 12-13-weeks following randomization. Additionally, participants in both groups will be provided a consumer grade wrist-worn physical activity monitor, where participants will be encouraged to wear throughout the 12-week intervention period and beyond for a minimum of 6-months. Participants randomized to the active control group will be provided the opportunity to participate in the RCR exercise training once enrollment goals are met.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 12-19 years old
• Male or Female
• 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

• Primary Cardiology clearance for exercise participation
• Internet access in their homes
• Available for in-home exercise between 4-7pm on at least 3 days of the Monday-Friday work week
• English Speaking
• 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

• Physically or developmentally unable to perform outcomes assessments or participate in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity
• 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).
• Height less than 132cm
• Pregnancy or planned surgery or procedure (excluding outpatient, non-cardiac procedures) within the 12-week study period.
• Meeting at least 1 exercise test safety or screening criteria on most recent exercise test (pre-study) or baseline outcomes visit exercise test
• Presence of significant cardiac dysfunction that would impair safe participation in moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise
• 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
• Uncontrolled or poorly controlled asthma
• Presence of implanted cardioverter-defibrillator
• Pacemaker with rate-responsive function initiated
• Reliance on ventricular assist device
• Prescribed milrinone medication
• Listed for heart transplantation
• Active engagement in hormone replacement for gender transition