BRIDGE Trial: Embedding Consumer-grade mHealth Technologies Into Cardiac Rehabilitation | NCT07741396

NCT07741396

Overview

NCT ID: NCT07741396
Lead Sponsor: University of Illinois at ChicagoOTHER
Official Title: BRIDGE Trial: Embedding Consumer-grade mHealth Technologies Into Cardiac Rehabilitation as a Model for Chronic Disease Management
Brief Summary: The purpose of the BRIDGE study is to learn whether supplementing traditional center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) with a mobile health technology intervention can help patients monitor their health, stay engaged in healthy lifestyle behaviors, better manage cardiovascular risk factors, and improve overall health outcomes.

Cardiac rehabilitation is an evidence-based outpatient program designed to help people recover from heart-related conditions through supervised exercise, education, counseling, and support for healthy lifestyle changes. Although cardiac rehabilitation is highly recommended and beneficial, many patients do not receive the full benefits of the program. Some patients attend fewer sessions than recommended, and many find it difficult to maintain healthy habits outside of the clinic, such as regular physical activity, heart-healthy eating, taking medications as prescribed, monitoring blood pressure, and managing weight.

This study will test whether combining CBCR with mobile health tools may improve participation and support healthy behaviors at home. Mobile health tools include mobile phone applications, connected devices such as a weight scale, blood pressure monitor, and activity tracker, as well as personalized text messages designed to encourage and support healthy self-care.

This study will help determine whether these mobile health tools can make cardiac rehabilitation more effective and help patients maintain healthy behaviors beyond the clinic setting.

Status and Timeline

Status: Not yet recruiting
Last Update Posted: Aug 3, 2026Actual
Start Date: Sep 1, 2026Estimated
Primary Completion Date: Mar 30, 2027Estimated
Completion Date

Participation Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study: Adult (18-64)Older Adult (65+)
Sexes Eligible for Study: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No
Eligibility Criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Adults aged 18 years or older.

Enrolled in or referred to Phase II Center-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

Have a qualifying cardiovascular diagnosis or event that meets standard eligibility for Phase II Center-based Cardiac Rehabilitation, such as:

Acute myocardial infarction

Percutaneous coronary intervention

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Heart valve repair or replacement

Stable angina

Able to ambulate and participate in exercise testing and training as required by the CR program

Ability to speak and read in English

Willing and able to provide informed consent.

Willing to use study-related devices/apps and complete study assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

Not enrolled in or not planning to participate in Phase II Center-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

Presence of a medical, cognitive, psychiatric, or physical condition that, in the opinion of the investigators or CR team, would preclude safe participation in the study or adherence to study procedures.

Severe cognitive impairment or active psychiatric illness that would interfere with informed consent or study participation.

Terminal illness or other serious medical condition that in the judgement of the treating clinician or investigator would likely preclude completion of the study follow-up period. .

Current hospice enrollment or residence in a long-term care facility that would preclude participation in the intervention or completion of study follow-up procedures.

Currently participating in another behavioral or digital health intervention trial that could confound study outcomes.

Inability or unwillingness to use the required mobile devices, applications, or monitoring equipment, if applicable.

Study Plan

Study Type: Interventional
Phase: Not Applicable
Enrollment: 30Estimated
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)

Contacts and Locations

Central Contacts: Leah Li, MSN, RNContact
yli351@uic.edu13123553519

Similar Studies

Participant Group/Arms

CBCR onlyActive Comparator

Participants randomized to the control group will receive standard outpatient CBCR at UI Health with no additional study-delivered mHealth intervention. The CBCR program at UI Health is a structured, medically supervised secondary prevention program for patients with qualifying cardiovascular conditions. It includes individualized aerobic and resistance exercise training, clinical monitoring during exercise sessions, education on heart disease and risk factor management, counseling to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors, and support for long-term adherence to prescribed treatment and self-care recommendations. Participants are encouraged to attend up to 36 supervised sessions over \~12 weeks. In addition to supervised exercise, CBCR includes education related to cardiovascular disease self-management, physical activity, healthy eating, weight management, lipid control, blood pressure management, smoking cessation, stress reduction, and other risk factor modification strtegies.

Other: CBCR

CBCR + BRIDGEExperimental

Participants randomized to the intervention group will receive BRIDGE in addition to the standard CBCR program at UI Health. BRIDGE is a multimodal mHealth intervention designed to extend behavioral support beyond clinic visits through mobile app- and device-based self-monitoring, feedback, and individually tailored text messages promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors (e.g. physical activity, heart healthy diet, and medication adherence).

Other: CBCR