HBCx

Smoking tobacco and physical inactivity are key preventable risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Perfect Fit aims to prevent CVD, promote well-being, and reduce healthcare costs, particularly targeting disadvantaged populations where smoking and physical inactivity are prevalent. The Research The project develops tailored, evidence-based, near real-time computer coaching for quitting smoking and enhancing PA. For every individual, a personal model is designed which generates personalized recommendations based on high-quality existing and newly collected data, and adapts to changing circumstances/progress (similar to a TomTom navigation system), using machine learning techniques and incorporating domain-specific expert knowledge (e.g. health behaviour change strategies). Virtual coaches (VCs) communicate advice in a motivating way that fits individuals’ persuasive communication styles. Perfect Fit integrates big-data science, sensor technology, and personalized real-time feedback to support smoking cessation and promote adequate physical activity (in both gym settings and daily life). The key questions of this study are: Which adaptivity is needed to create a robust, safe, and effective interaction between individuals and machines? How can we develop advanced data science methods and embed this in current smoking cessation and PA coaching practice? How do measurement modalities, feedback and communication affect individuals’ smoking status and PA? Origin This project was funded within the Big Data & Health Program. The focus of this public-private research program is the use of big data for the early detection and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The program has been developed by NWO, ZonMw, the Dutch Heart Foundation, the Top Sectors Life Sciences & Health (LSH), ICT and Creative Industry, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and the Netherlands eScience Center. Within this research program, the ambitions of the Dutch Heart Foundation, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and the Netherlands eScience Center were aligned with the ambitions of Commit2Data for the Top Sectors ICT, LSH, and Creative Industry, as described in the 2018-2019 Kennis- en Innovatiecontracts between NWO and the Top Sectors.

Habitual physical activity is beneficial for cardiovascular health. Yet, many patients with cardiovascular disease are sedentary, and current physical activity programs often fail to achieve lasting improvements. At the extreme end of the activity spectrum, more athletes engage in long-term, high-volume, high-intensity training.  Emerging evidence suggests that there may be an upper limit of exercise for heart health and exceeding this threshold may attenuate the benefits of an active lifestyle. The FIT-HEART consortium seeks to develop tailored physical activity interventions for cardiovascular disease patients and to investigate safe exercise limits for recreational and elite athletes. The research FIT-HEART has three main goals: Co-create, implement and evaluate an innovative program that promotes physical activity by integrating incentives from the individual’s (social) environment tailored to the needs of specific subgroups, which can be seamlessly integrated into healthcare systems across the Netherlands, with potential for future expansion to other patient groups and the broader population. Assess the upper limits of exercise on heart health in recreational and professional athletes by conducting prospective studies in unique cohorts. This approach integrates extensive cardiac phenotyping, wearable monitoring, novel AI technologies, digital twinning, immunophenotyping, and long-term evaluation of clinical outcomes. Establish and expand a multidisciplinary, synergistic consortium focused on sports, exercise, and heart health. Our mission is to nurture young talent, foster innovative cross-domain collaborations, and secure funding for ongoing and future research. In partnership with end-users, we will disseminate outcomes to professionals, patients, and the public, while raising awareness of the wide-ranging health benefits of an active lifestyle. The origin The FIT-HEART consortium emerged from a shared ambition among academic institutions, healthcare partners, patient organizations, and policymakers to address sedentary lifestyles in cardiovascular disease patients and to investigate the cardiac effects of extreme exercise in both elite and recreational athletes. This interdisciplinary initiative builds upon prior collaborative research in sports cardiology, preventive medicine, and behavioral interventions aimed at promoting physical activity. FIT-HEART is well-aligned with the strategic agendas of the Dutch Heart Foundation and the Dutch CardioVascular Alliance (DCVA), both of which prioritize innovative solutions to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease. By integrating incentives from people’s social environment, the consortium aims to create personalized treatment options that encourage lasting physical activity, while taking into account subgroup-specific needs. In parallel, the integration of advanced cardiovascular methodologies enables FIT-HEART to identify recreational and professional athletes at an early stage who are at risk for adverse cardiovascular health outcomes.