Healthy Hearts via Live Videoconferencing: An Exercise and Diet Intervention in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND: Pediatric heart transplant recipients have high‐risk cardiovascular profiles that can affect their long‐term outcomes; however, promoting exercise and healthy diet has not been a major focus in the field. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility and impact of a supervised exercise and diet intervention delivered via live videoconferencing in this population. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients 8 to 19 years of age at least 1 year post heart transplantation were enrolled. The 12‐ to 16‐week intervention phase included live video–supervised exercise (×3/week) and nutrition (×1/week) sessions. The 12‐ to 16‐week maintenance phase included ×1/week live video–supervised exercise and nutrition sessions and ×2/week self‐directed exercise sessions. Cardiac, vascular, nutritional, and functional health indices were obtained at baseline, after intervention, and after maintenance. Fourteen patients (median age, 15.2; interquartile range, 14.3–16.7 years) at a median of 3.3 (interquartile range, 1.5–9.7) years after heart transplant completed the intervention. Patients attended 89.6±11% of exercise and 88.4±10% of nutrition sessions during the intervention and 93.4±11% of exercise and 92.3±11% of nutrition sessions during maintenance. After intervention, body mass index percentile (median, −27%; P=0.02), endothelial function (median, +0.29; P=0.04), maximum oxygen consumption (median, +2 mL/kg per minute; P=0.002). Functional Movement Screening total score (median, +2.5; P=0.002) and daily consumption of saturated fat (median, −6 g; P=0.02) improved significantly. After maintenance, improvements in maximum oxygen consumption (median, +3.2 mL/kg per minute; P=0.02) and Functional Movement Screening total score (median, +5; P=0.002) were sustained. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric heart transplant recipients, a live video–supervised exercise and diet intervention is feasible. Our results demonstrate excellent adherence with significant improvements in cardiovascular and functional health. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02519946.