Recruiting

CBCR with Mobile Health

Sponsor:

University of Illinois Chicago

Code:

NCT07741396

Conditions

Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG)

Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)

Heart Valve Repair or Replacement

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

CBCR

BRIDGE mHealth intervention

Study Details

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.

Conditions

Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG)

Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)

Heart Valve Repair or Replacement

Study ID

NCT07741396

Start date

Nov 2, 2026

Status verified date

Nov, 2026

Completion date

Jul 30, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Mar 30, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults aged 18 years or older.
2. Enrolled in or referred to Phase II Center-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.
3. 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
4. Able to ambulate and participate in exercise testing and training as required by the CR program
5. Ability to speak and read in English
6. Willing and able to provide informed consent.
7. Willing to use study-related devices/apps and complete study assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Not enrolled in or not planning to participate in Phase II Center-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.
2. 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.
3. Severe cognitive impairment or active psychiatric illness that would interfere with informed consent or study participation.
4. 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. .
5. 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.
6. Currently participating in another behavioral or digital health intervention trial that could confound study outcomes.
7. Inability or unwillingness to use the required mobile devices, applications, or monitoring equipment, if applicable.

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: CBCR only

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.

experimental: CBCR + BRIDGE

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).

Interventions

CBCR

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.

BRIDGE mHealth intervention

Description: The intervention includes three commercially available mHealth apps and devices: Withings Body Composition weight scale, Withings BP monitor, and Fitbit Charge 6 activity tracker along with their companion mobile apps. Each app incorporates behavior change tools that support daily self-monitoring, feedback, and reminders across key cardiac rehabilitation domains, including physical activity, weight and blood pressure management, and cardiovascular risk factor reduction. Participants will also receive up to five individually tailored text messages per week throughout the intervention period. Messages will be individualized based on (1) patient responses to validated questionnaires administered at baseline and (2) patient-generated health data from the app/devices. Messages will target physical activity, healthy eating, weight management, blood pressure control, and cardiovascular risk reduction.

Primary outcome measure

  • Functional capacity as measured by peak metabolic equivalents (METs). [ Time Frame: * Baseline; * End of the CBCR program, an average of 12 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Locations

University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System

Recruiting

Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612

Contacts

More Information

Sponsor

University of Illinois Chicago

Last update posted

Nov 10, 2026

Last verified

Nov, 2026

Keywords

  • cardiac rehabilitation
  • mHealth
  • digital tool
  • consumer-grade technology

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-11-11. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Illinois Chicago on 2026-11-10. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.