Synergy Digital Health

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Synergy Digital Health Assessing the relationship between everyday physical activity and exercise capacity in patients with a Fontan circulation

  • IRAS ID

    340870

  • Contact name

    Elizabeth Orchard

  • Contact email

    elizabeth.orchard@ouh.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Oxford University Hospitals

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 4 months, 31 days

  • Research summary


    The scientific purpose of the project is to investigate the clinical significance of data collected from wearable devices and smartphones. To do so, we are going to ask 35 patients who underwent a Fontan procedure (a surgical intervention performed done on children born without two functional ventricles) to wear a fitness tracker daily for 2 months, during regular daily life and to perform weekly a standard physical test named six-minute walk test (6MWT), using a smartphone. The objective is to identify if there is a link between the data collected by the fitness tracker and the results of the test. This would allow clinicians to relate free-living physical activity with information they are used to interpret and on which they can base medical decisions. The study also aims to evaluate if the technology is reliable and well accepted by patients.

    Wearable devices are becoming more accessible to the general population. Their use has the potential to save resources and improve the clinical management of populations with conditions that affect exercise capacity, such as those with congenital heart disease.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/WM/0131

  • Date of REC Opinion

    4 Sep 2025

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion