Revamping Exercise Assessments in Child Health (Project REACH)

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how to better measure exercise responses in children and adolescents with chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), sickle cell disease (SCD), and those affected by SARS-CoV-2. The study is a collaboration among several NIH Clinical Translational Science Award sites and aims to close gaps in understanding safe and beneficial physical activity levels for children with physiological constraints due to these conditions. This research focuses on developing new ways to assess physical fitness and health impacts across pediatric populations with chronic illnesses. Participants will undergo cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) involving up to eight 2-minute bouts of constant work rate cycling with 1-minute rest intervals. Some children will have blood samples taken at baseline, end of exercise, and 30 and 60 minutes post-exercise to analyze biomarkers and gene expression. The study includes groups of healthy children, children with CF, SCD, SARS-CoV-2 history, and hyperlipidemia, with testing performed annually over a 3-4 year period. Throughout the study, children will be monitored for gas exchange variables, body composition measures, physical activity levels, biomarkers, gene expression, and behavioral responses to exercise. Assessments include clinical exams, questionnaires, and blood sampling to track health and fitness changes over time. Participation involves repeated visits for exercise testing and biological sample collection, helping researchers develop innovative metrics for exercise assessment in pediatric chronic disease populations. The study is expected to continue through June 2026.

Exercise in Child Health