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NCT Number: NCT07127731

REmote Physical ACtivity Intervention for High Blood Pressure Postpartum

The purpose of this intervention is to help new mothers who had elevated blood pressure during pregnancy become more physically active after birth. The investigators will connect data from FitBits to the electronic health record. Women will then get weekly messages with feedback and goals to help them stay active. The investigators will test if the intervention improves step counts and blood pressure after pregnancy. The investigators will also test if the intervention is feasible and enjoyed by postpartum women.

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Key information

Conditions

Hypertension (HTN) Behavior Cardiovascular Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Hypertension Hypertension ,Pregnancy Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced Motor Activity Physical Activity Pregnancy Complications Urogenital Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Delivery of a live birth at Northwestern Medicine 6-12 weeks prior
  • Systolic blood pressure 120-139 or diastolic blood pressure 80-89 during the first 20 weeks of gestation
  • Low self-reported physical activity levels
  • Able to access the internet at least weekly
  • Have patient portal account or willing to set one up
  • Willing to wear a FitBit
  • Spoken and written English or Spanish language fluency

Exclusion criteria

  • Medical contraindications to participating in a structured physical activity program
  • Currently participating in a structured physical activity or weight loss program
  • Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (e.g., preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, eclampsia)

Treatment and study plan

Patient Portal Messaging

Behavioral

Participants will receive weekly messages via their patient portal including feedback on their step counts and step count goals based on data from their FitBits

FitBit EHR Linkage

Behavioral

Participants will receive FitBits and link this step count data with the Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Primary outcomes

  1. Feasibility of Recruitment

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of the 24 week intervention

    Number of participants enrolled in the intervention

  2. Feasibility of Participant Retention

    Time frame: At study weeks 12 and 24

    Percent of enrolled participants who continue to participate in the intervention

  3. Feasibility of FitBit+EHR linkage

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of the 24 week intervention

    Percent of intervention days FitBit data are linked to the Electronic Health Record

  4. Feasibility of Intervention Messaging

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of the 24 week intervention

    Percent of weekly messages that are read by participants

  5. Acceptability of the Intervention

    Time frame: Study week 24

    Participants will fill out a survey to assess the extent to which they were satisfied with individual intervention components including FitBit usage, portal messaging, blood pressure and weight assessments, surveys, intervention length and intervention delivery. Each component will be rated on a 5-point Likert Scale in which 1 represents very dissatisfied (lowest score) and 5 represents very satisfied (highest score).

Other outcomes

  1. Systolic Blood Pressure

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)

  2. Diastolic Blood Pressure

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Diastolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)

  3. Step Counts

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Daily Mean Step Count from FitBits

  4. Self Reported Physical Activity

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Self-reported Metabolic Equivalent of a Task (MET)*hours per week based on responses to the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire

  5. Body weight

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Body weight (kg)

  6. Height

    Time frame: Baseline

    Height in inches

  7. Sleep

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Mean hours of sleep per night

  8. Diet

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Adherence to Mediterranean diet assessed by the Mediterranean Eating Pattern for Americans Tool

  9. Depression

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Score on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Minimum Score: 0 (Least Depressed), Maximum Score: 30 (Most Depressed)

  10. Perceived Stress

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Score on the Perceived Stress Scale. Minimum Score: 0 (Least Perceived Stress), Maximum Score: 40 (Most Perceived Stress)

  11. Perceived Anxiety

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Score on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 Scale. Minimum Score: 0 (Little Anxiety), Maximum Score: 21 (Severe Anxiety)

  12. Physical Activity Related Knowledge - Minutes Per Week

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Participants will be asked a multiple choice question with 5 possible options about how many minutes per week of exercise is recommended by the government. One option will be considered the correct answer.

  13. Blood Pressure Related Knowledge

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Participants will be asked to write a response to the following question: Above which blood pressure does the American Heart Association say someone has hypertension?

  14. Health Care Visits

    Time frame: From enrollment through the end of the 24 week intervention

    Number and type of healthcare visits attended

  15. Sleep

    Time frame: Study weeks 0, 12 and 24

    Score on the PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Sleep Disturbance Short Form. Minimum Score: 8 (low levels of sleep disturbance; Maximum Score: 40 (high levels of sleep disturbance)

  16. Physical Activity Counseling

    Time frame: From enrollment through the end of the 24 week intervention

    Number of times participant reports receiving physical activity counseling from a healthcare provider

  17. FitBit Counseling

    Time frame: From enrollment through the end of the 24 week intervention

    Number of times participant reports discussing their FitBit data with a healthcare provider

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Natalie A Cameron, MD, MPH

CONTACT

[email protected]

312-503-2137

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Northwestern University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Registry information

Official study title

REACH BP: REmote Physical ACtivity Intervention for High Blood Pressure Postpartum

Acronym: REACH BP

Important dates

Study start
2027
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Aug 17, 2025
Registry last updated
Mar 23, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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