Understanding and Addressing Risks of Low Socioeconomic Status and Diabetes for Heart Failure

Purpose

This study aims to determine whether a 6-month multilevel intervention involving problem-solving training, exercise training and support from community health workers is more effective in improving outcomes for individuals with low socioeconomic status, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and early cardiac dysfunction than receiving education and access to a community exercise facility.

Conditions

  • Type2diabetes
  • Heart Failure
  • Obesity

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 30 Years and 70 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Adults from Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) who live in Baltimore City and adults from Johns Hopkins Community Physicians (JHCP) Hagerstown or Family Healthcare of Hagerstown who live in Washington County - Low socioeconomic status (SES) by high Area Deprivation Index (ADI) [>75th percentile for the state of Maryland] plus low income) - Type 2 diabetes - Obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m^2)

Exclusion Criteria

  • Age < 30 or >70 years - Prevalent heart failure - Uncontrolled glycemia (blood glucose <60 mg/d or ≥ 300 mg/dl or most recent hemoglobin A1c ≥11%) - Uncontrolled blood pressure (Systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥160 or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥100 mm Hg, either on or off medications) - Known coronary artery disease (unless < 50% stenosis by angiography) - Moderate or severe valvular heart disease - Serious medical conditions limiting life expectancy or requiring active management - Inability to participate in moderate intensity physical activity as assessed by the self-report Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire Plus (PAR-Q+). - Any condition or planned surgery/procedure precluding exercise for ≥ 150 minutes per week - End-stage renal disease - Current participation in another behavior change program - Active alcohol or substance abuse disorder - Already engaging in regular exercise with more than 60 minutes of moderate [3-6 METS] to vigorous [>6 METS] physical activity per week - Active pregnancy - Evidence of ischemia, dangerous arrhythmia, or other clinical instability on baseline exercise stress test

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
The design of the study is a randomized 2:1 parallel-arm clinical trial.
Primary Purpose
Prevention
Masking
Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description
Participants and interventionists will be unblinded, while those assessing outcomes will be blinded to the randomization arm .

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Community Champions
Participants assigned to the "Community Champions" group will undergo a six-month behavioral intervention. This intervention involves bi-weekly problem-solving training sessions (DECIDE) conducted in groups of 6-10 individuals, along with support from community health workers. Additionally, participants will receive a YMCA membership to exercise with a professional health coach.
  • Behavioral: Community Champions
    The UNLOAD-Heart Failure Program intervention includes problem solving training, community health worker support, and exercise support from health coaches at YMCAs.
    Other names:
    • Multi-level intervention
Active Comparator
Homegrown Heroes
Participants assigned to the "Homegrown Heroes" will receive a YMCA membership for exercise and a monthly newsletters for 6 months that include education about diabetes self-management, healthy lifestyle and heart failure prevention .
  • Behavioral: Homegrown Heroes
    Monthly newsletters/videos on diabetes self-management, healthy lifestyle and heart failure prevention will be provided, as well as a membership to the local YMCA.
    Other names:
    • Education plus access to community exercise facility

Recruiting Locations

Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity
Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Contact:
Perri Carroll, MPH
443-692-7272
pcarro13@jhmi.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Johns Hopkins University

Study Contact

Chiadi Ndumele, MD, PhD
4105022319
cndumel2@jhmi.edu

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial employs a 2:1 allocation ratio. The study aims to include 402 individuals from Baltimore City and Hagerstown, Maryland, characterized by low neighborhood and individual socioeconomic status, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and evidence of subclinical heart dysfunction, without a prior clinical diagnosis of heart failure. The 6-month multi-level intervention consists of three key components: 1. Problem Solving - Diabetes Self-Management Training (DECIDE): Participants will engage in a biweekly evidence-based behavioral change program known as DECIDE. This program focuses on problem-solving training, aiding individuals in managing chronic conditions by overcoming obstacles and challenges. It aims to enhance self-care, improve control of metabolic risk factors, and includes tailored education on heart failure prevention. 2. Community Health Worker Support: Participants will receive ongoing support from community health workers as part of the intervention. These workers will conduct telephone and/or home visits at least monthly, offering assistance in following areas: - Reinforcing patient education about disease self-management - Helping patients access care and addressing barriers to care and treatment - Serving as facilitators and navigators to clinical care, social services, and other community resources - Providing encouragement and support to engage, activate, and empower patients and their support systems 3. Health Coaching and Partnership with Community Facilities: Participants will engage in supervised aerobic and resistance exercise training at the local Young Men's Christian Associations (YMCAs). The participants will receive instructions on gradually increasing the activity levels throughout the 6-month intervention to achieve physical activity goals (150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week).