Funding outcome

Some children are born with problems in the structure of their heart, which is called 'congenital heart disease' (CHD). These children often have lower fitness levels and often do not participate in as much physical activity compared to healthy children. This is a serious problem because reduced fitness levels in childhood can contribute to long-term issues such as heart attacks, strokes, or hospital admissions. Exercise is one of the best ways to improve fitness. One safe and effective form of exercise is alternating between bursts of high and low intensity exercise called 'high-intensity interval training' (HIIT). However, the effect of HIIT in children with CHD has not yet been studied. In this project, we are studying the impact of a home-based HIIT program for children with CHD, using the MedBIKE, a home-based, video-game linked exercise device. The MedBIKE™ allows for both live audiovisual monitoring (including heart tracing and oxygen saturation measurements) and changes in resistance based on the ability of the child. Our study includes 10-18 year old children with repaired CHD. After enrolling, all participants have their fitness and physical activity levels evaluated, and complete multiple questionnaires. Then, each participant is randomly assigned one of two groups: a 12-week (36 sessions) HIIT MedBIKE™ exercise program or usual clinical care. After the 12-weeks, all children undergo a repeat assessment (same as the baseline assessment). Then, each group crosses over, so that each child ends up participating in the MedBIKE program, followed by a repeat assessment at the end of the program. Final assessments occur at 6- and 12-months after the MedBIKE program to evaluate for long-term changes. The findings from this study will provide important insights about the safety and effectiveness of home-based telemedicine HIIT programs for children with CHD. These findings may support the development of clinical programs for Canadian children with CHD.