Can electrically-assisted bicycles be recommended for patients with heart disease?

ISRCTN ISRCTN32238279
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN32238279
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
16/06/2015
Registration date
08/07/2015
Last edited
22/01/2019
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Circulatory System
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Cardiac rehabilitation is proven to be effective in coronary artery disease patients and is recommended by the European Society of Cardiology. However the long-term benefits are often poor, because patients do not adopt healthy lifestyle behaviours (including regular exercise training). To overcome this problem, alternative rehabilitation methods have been assessed. Especially for the elderly, electrically-assisted cycling could be a valuable alternative to classical cycling. There is little evidence about this approach and the aim of this observational study is to find out more.

Who can participate?
Adult patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease.

What does the study involve?
Participants perform the same route three times in Hasselt, Belgium. The first time they use a classical bicycle, the second and/or third time an electrically-assisted bicycle. During each cycling period, a number of measurements are taken.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
A risk is that participants could experience exercise-related complications during the cycling period. However, participants are supervised by at least one person who can intervene whenever necessary.

Where is the study run from?
Jessa Hospital, Hasselt (Belgium)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2014 to April 2015

Who is funding the study?
Heart Center Hasselt (Belgium)

Who is the main contact?
Professor Dominic Hansen

Contact information

Prof Dominique Hansen
Scientific

Stadsomvaart 11
3500 Hasselt
Hasselt
3500
Belgium

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0003-3074-2737

Study information

Study designSingle-centre prospective observational trial
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designCohort study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet ot available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleComparing the metabolic load of electrically-assisted cycling with classical cycling in coronary artery disease patients after phase II of cardiac rehabilitation.
Study objectivesThe metabolic load of electrically-assisted cycling is significantly different, compared to classical cycling in coronary artery disease patients after phase II of cardiac rehabilitation.
Ethics approval(s)Jessa Hospital Ethics Committee, 07/112014, ref 14.73/reva14.10.
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedPatients with coronary artery disease, treated with percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting.
InterventionEvery patient was requested to perform a cycling route (of 10 km) in Hasselt (Belgium). Patients performed the cycling route 3 times.
The first time, a classical bicycle was used. The second and/or third time electrically assisted bicycles were used (light and heavy assistance).
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureVO2, assessed by ergospirometry (Oxycon mobile device) during whole cycling sessions.

VO2 was recorded during all cycling sessions.
Secondary outcome measures1. VCO2, assessed by ergospirometry (Oxycon mobile device) during whole cycling sessions
2. RER, assessed by ergospirometry (Oxycon mobile device) during whole cycling sessions
3. VE, assessed by ergospirometry (Oxycon mobile device) during whole cycling sessions
4. Time of cycling sessions, recorded by stopwatch
5. Perceived exertion, assessed twice at predefined parcours locations with Borg scale
Kcal, deduced from VO2 and total time of cycling sessions

VCO2, RER, VE, perceived exertion (Borg scale) were recorded during all cycling sessions.

VO2 or oxygen consumption - VO2 is defined as the volume of O2 extracted from inspired air in a given period of time.
VCO2 or carbon dioxide output - VCO2 is defined as the amount of CO2 exhaled from the body per unit of time.
RER or respiratory exchange ratio - RER is defined as : RER= VCO2/VO2. The RER is determined by the fuels used for metabolism. RER is 1 for carbohydrates; RER is 0,7 for lipids and RER is 0,85 for carbohydrates and lipids.
VE or minute ventilation - VE is the volume of expired air exhaled from the lungs in 1 minute.
Overall study start date01/11/2014
Completion date01/05/2015

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants15
Key inclusion criteria1. Coronary artery disease patients, treated with percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting
2. Patients should have completed phase II of cardiac rehabilitation
3. Absence of severe pulmonary and/or renal disease
4. Absence of neurological and/or orthopedic disease (that would limit the patient's possibility to cycle)
5. Absence of pacemaker
6. Gender: both male and female
7. Age: between 50-75 years old
8. Signed informed consent
Key exclusion criteria1. Presence of severe pulmonary and/or renal disease
2. Presence of neurological and/or orthopedic disease (that would limit the patient's possibility to cycle)
3. Presence of pacemaker
4. Age: <50 or > 75 years old
Date of first enrolment10/11/2014
Date of final enrolment01/04/2015

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Belgium

Study participating centre

Jessa Hospital
Stadsomvaart 11
3500 Hasselt
Hasselt
3500
Belgium

Sponsor information

Heart Center Hasselt
Hospital/treatment centre

Stadsomvaart 11
3500 Hasselt
Hasselt
3500
Belgium

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03tw90478

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

Heart Center Hasselt (Belgium)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/12/2015
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPublication: submission of article by September 2015.
Dissemination: presentation of trial results at the Belgian Society of Cardiology (BSC) conference 2016.
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/08/2018 22/01/2019 Yes No

Editorial Notes

22/01/2019: Publication reference added