News Summary
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have secured a $25 million grant to launch a gamified walking program aimed at reducing heart disease risk. This groundbreaking study will utilize smartphone technology to encourage increased physical activity among participants in a large-scale randomized controlled trial. With 18,000 adults expected to join, the trial seeks to establish causality between walking and reduced heart disease incidents. The findings could transform cardiovascular prevention guidelines and improve health outcomes nationwide.
Philadelphia
Penn Researchers Awarded $25 Million Grant for Groundbreaking Heart Health Study
Philadelphia, PA – Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have secured a substantial $25 million grant to pioneer an innovative approach to combating heart disease: a gamified walking program. This significant funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) will facilitate a large-scale randomized controlled trial to determine if this novel, phone-based game can effectively lower the risk of serious heart-related health issues, including heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and death.
Gamified Walking Program Targets Cardiovascular Disease
The core of this ambitious project involves a behavioral intervention designed to significantly boost daily physical activity. The program, which functions like a game, tracks participants’ daily steps using smartphone technology and assigns points and levels based on their activity. Participants receive regular text messages with their step tallies and progress updates, fostering ongoing engagement and motivation.
Previous trials conducted by the Penn team demonstrated the potential of this game-based strategy. In one clinical trial involving 1,062 patients, the approach led to an average increase of nearly 2,000 steps daily among participants. Another study indicated that such behavioral interventions could sustain increased physical activity for over 18 months, with gamification alone increasing activity by approximately 1,900 steps per day. The success of these earlier studies, including the “BE ACTIVE” trial published in 2024, laid the groundwork for the current large-scale investigation.
Largest-Ever Study to Prove Causality
While observational studies have long suggested a link between increased daily steps and a reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes, definitive proof of a cause-and-effect relationship through large-scale randomized controlled trials has been lacking. This $25 million PCORI grant enables the Penn team to pursue the “gold standard” for establishing scientific causality. The upcoming trial will be the largest of its kind, enrolling 18,000 adults.
Participants for this study will be recruited through a partnership with Ascension, a leading non-profit health system spanning 15 states and the District of Columbia, and will include individuals with an elevated risk of cardiovascular events, such as those with a 10% or higher chance of experiencing a major heart event within the next decade. This includes individuals who have previously experienced a heart attack or stroke, or who have multiple cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, or diabetes.
The trial will be fully remote, requiring no office visits, and will leverage the accelerometers already built into most smartphones to measure movement. Participants will establish a baseline step count over two weeks, then set personalized goals to increase their daily steps by 33% to 50%. They will participate in a game where points are gained or lost based on meeting these daily step goals, with a designated support partner also receiving weekly updates for added accountability.
Potential to Transform Cardiovascular Prevention
The research team hypothesizes that increased walking can contribute to heart health by reducing blood pressure, blood sugar, and inflammation, and by improving how muscles receive oxygen, thereby lessening the heart’s workload. The goal is to determine if participants in the gamified walking group experience significantly fewer instances of stroke, heart attack, or heart failure compared to a control group.
This landmark trial is anticipated to launch within approximately a year and a half and will run for roughly five years. The findings from this extensive study have the potential to significantly impact cardiovascular prevention guidelines, reduce mortality rates, improve the quality of life for many individuals, and substantially lower healthcare costs across the nation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the main objective of the Penn researchers’ new study?
- The main objective is to determine if a gamified walking program, supported by a $25 million grant, can effectively reduce the risk of serious heart-related health issues, including heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and death.
- How does the gamified walking program work?
- The program tracks participants’ daily steps using smartphone technology, assigning points and levels based on their activity. Participants receive regular text messages with step tallies and updates, encouraging engagement. They establish a baseline step count and then aim to increase their daily steps by 33% to 50% through a game where points are gained or lost, with a support partner for accountability.
- Who is funding this research?
- This research is funded by a $25 million grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).
- What type of study will be conducted?
- The Penn team will launch a large-scale randomized controlled trial, considered the “gold standard” for establishing scientific causality in medical research.
- How many participants will be involved in the trial?
- The clinical trial will involve 18,000 adult participants.
- Who is eligible to participate in the trial?
- The trial will enroll adults who have an elevated risk of experiencing a major heart event within the next decade, specifically those with a 10% or higher chance. This includes individuals who have had a heart attack or stroke, or have multiple cardiovascular risk factors.
- What is the expected duration of the trial?
- The trial is anticipated to launch within approximately a year and a half and will run for roughly five years.
Key Features of the Gamified Walking for Heart Health Program
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Funding Source | $25 million grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). |
| Primary Goal | To reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and death through increased physical activity. |
| Intervention Method | Gamified walking program using smartphone technology to track steps, assign points/levels, and send motivational text messages. |
| Study Design | Large-scale randomized controlled trial. |
| Number of Participants | 18,000 adults. |
| Participant Eligibility | Adults with at least a 10% chance of a cardiovascular event over the next 10 years, or those with existing heart conditions/risk factors. |
| Program Duration | The trial will run for roughly five years after launching in about a year and a half. |
| Technology Used | Smartphones (accelerometers), text messages for daily tallies and goal-setting. |
| Recruitment Partner | Ascension, a non-profit health system across 15 states and Washington D.C. |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Drexel University Wrestling Faces Purdue in Tough Dual Match
Laughter: The Key to Better Heart and Mental Health
Penn Researchers Launch $25 Million Smartphone Trial for Heart Disease Prevention
Breakthrough in Obesity Treatment with SYNT-101
Florida Surgeon General Proposes Elimination of Vaccine Mandates
Study Reveals Widespread Disparities in Heart Age Among U.S. Adults
Pittsburgh Faces Air Quality Struggles in Latest Report
Author: STAFF HERE PHILADELPHIA WRITER
The PHILADELPHIA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREPhiladelphia.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Mummers Parade, Philadelphia Flower Show, and Thanksgiving Day Parade. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Philadelphia, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, food services, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Comcast, Aramark, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Pennsylvania's dynamic landscape.
