CompletedNot Applicable

Personalized Exercise Therapy and Self-management Support for Patients With Multimorbidity

Denmark228 participantsStarted 2021-11-01

Plain-language summary

Chronic conditions such as knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure (HF), coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and depression are among the leading causes of global disability and affect hundreds of millions of people around the world. In recent years, multimorbidity, commonly defined as the co-occurrence of at least two chronic conditions, has also gained interest due to its substantial impact on the person and society. Despite the significant burden of multimorbidity, little is known about how to treat this effectively. A 2016 Cochrane systematic review found that interventions targeting populations with specific combinations of conditions and addressing specific problems such as functional difficulties may be more effective. Exercise therapy is a treatment addressing functional limitations that is a safe and effective treatment of at least 26 chronic conditions, including OA, HF, CHD, hypertension, T2DM, COPD and depression. Furthermore, self-management support is increasingly recognized as an essential component of interventions to improve outcomes in patients living with multimorbidity and to support the long-term adherence to exercise. A new systematic review found that exercise seems effective in people with multimorbidity (the conditions included in the current study), however highlighting the need for further high-quality RCTs. The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to investigate the effects of a personalized exercise therapy and self-management support program in addition to usual care on self-reported, objectively measured and physiological outcomes in people with multimorbidity (i.e. at least two of the following conditions: OA (knee or hip), heart condition (HF or CHD), hypertension, T2DM, COPD and depression). The primary endpoint is 12 months, but 4- and 6-month follow-ups are included as well and a 12-month health economic evaluation of the program will be conducted. Prior to the RCT, a feasibility trial of 20 people with multimorbidity, all undergoing the personalized exercise therapy and self-management support program, will be conducted using the same methods as in the RCT, but primarily focusing on feasibility outcomes (recruitment, retention, adherence to treatment, burden of outcomes, improvements in outcomes, adverse events). This will start recruitment in Feb 2021 and end August 2021. The MOBILIZE project has received funding from several foundations, including the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement No 801790).

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * At least two of the following conditions: OA (knee or hip), COPD, heart condition (HF or CHD), hypertension, T2DM, depression (having other comorbidities does not exclude a patient) * Adults aged 18 years or above * Able to walk 3 meters without any assistance * A score of 3 or above on the Bayliss' Disease Burden: Morbidity Assessment by Self- Report scale for at least one of the conditions listed above and a score of 2 or above for at least one of the other listed conditions * Willingness and ability to participate in a 12-week supervised exercise therapy and self- management support program twice a week Exclusion Criteria: * Participation in supervised systematic exercise for one of their diseases within the last 3 months * Patients with an unstable health condition or at risk of serious adverse events as evaluated by a medical specialist * Patients categorized as Class IV on the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification scale * Terminal patients and patients with life expectancy of less than 12 months * Patients with psychosis disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, anorexia nervosa/bulimia nervosa and patients with dependency disorders * Other reasons (unable to understand Danish, mentally unable to participate, etc.)

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

EQ-5D-5L, the descriptive index

Timeframe: Primary endpoint: Change from baseline to 12 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04645732

SponsorUniversity of Southern Denmark

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-07-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Osteoarthritis, Knee trials