Long-term Endurance Training in Sickle Cell Disease Patients: Impact on Clinical Profile, Physical Fitness, and Quality of Life.

Summary

Sickle cell disease (SCD), the most common genetic disease worldwide and in France, is an inherited haemoglobinopathy characterised by chronic haemolytic anaemia, vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), acute pain, and multi-organ damage. Due to anaemia and multiple pulmonary, cardiac, endothelial, muscle, and metabolic dysfunctions, fatigue and poor physical capacity are common in SCD patients and constitute the primary reason for a sedentary lifestyle. However, recent findings demonstrated in the first randomised, controlled, and prospective study implementing endurance training in SCD that, when adequately calibrated, regular moderate-intensity endurance training is not only safe but also beneficial for patients (primary outcome: improvement of physical ability). This pivotal randomised, controlled, prospective study is designed to prove, on a large multicentre cohort, adult and paediatric, including patients with complications and over a longer period (one year). The objective of the study is to demonstrate the efficacy of participating in a program of regular physical activity to reduce the rate of vaso-occlusive crises requiring hospitalisation and to improve physical ability in patients with SCD.

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