Using games and support to help heart failure patients exercise more

This study is testing whether turning exercise into a game—with points, levels, and trophies—can help people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction stay more active. You'll wear a device that tracks your steps, and depending on which group you're in, you'll either see your daily steps, play a points-and-levels game with a support partner, or compete against other participants on a leaderboard.

People with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction often feel too tired and short of breath to exercise, even though being more active really does help them feel better and stay out of the hospital. Unfortunately, traditional exercise programs are hard to access, so researchers want to see if making exercise fun—like a game—will motivate more people to keep moving.