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

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

The purpose of this study to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a personalized exercise training program adapted from Gerofit to improve physical health and quality of life for adults with SCD

The purpose of this study is to adapt and pilot the Gerofit personalized exercise intervention for older adults with sickle cell disease (age ≥ 40 years). The Sickle Cell Disease Functional Assessment (SCD-FA) will be performed at steady state at baseline and every 3 months to track progress. Endpoints include feasibility, acceptability, and safety. All participants will be interviewed to identify barriers and facilitators to exercise and how to better optimize the exercise intervention.

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.