AnemiaNCT07882706
Effect of Aerobic Training Supported by AI-Based Monitoring on Functional Performance in University Students With Anemia
A study testing Aerobic Treadmill Training and AI-Supported Adaptive Cognitive Training in people with Anemia, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
This study aims to examine the impact of aerobic training supported by AI-based monitoring on functional performance in university students with anemia. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Anemia
- What is being tested?
- Aerobic Treadmill Training and AI-Supported Adaptive Cognitive Training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 30 Oct 2026to 30 Oct 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Both genders students.
- Age range between 18-25 years.
- BMI between 18.5-29.9 kg/m².
- Diagnosed with mild to moderate anemia.
- Serum ferritin level (< 30 µg/l). (Sholzberg et al., 2025).
- Hemoglobin level classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria as follows: (Moonajilin et al., 2020).
Show all 18Show fewer
- Females (≥15 years) :
- Non-anemic: ≥12 g/dL
- Mild anemia: 11.0-11.9 g/dL
- Moderate anemia: 8.0-10.9 g/dL
- Males (≥15 years):
- Non-anemic: ≥13 g/dL
- Mild anemia: 11.0-12.9 g/dL
- Moderate anemia: 8.0-10.9 g/dL
- Medically stable and cleared for participation in an exercise program.
- Able to perform aerobic exercise.
- Able to use mobile applications.
- Have access to a compatible smartphone and be able to use BrainHQ, TMT app and Google Fit applications during the study period.
Who cannot join
- Severe anemia requires immediate medical intervention.
- Presence of cardiovascular, respiratory, or neurological disorders affecting physical performance.
- Musculoskeletal conditions limiting exercise participation.
- Severe cognitive impairment interferes with assessment.
- Use of medications that may markedly affect heart rate, exercise tolerance, cognitive function, or hemoglobin level.
- Participation in another structured exercise or rehabilitation program.
- Inability to use mobile devices or comply with the study protocol.
- For female participants: severe menstrual bleeding or diagnosed gynecological condition causing uncontrolled anemia.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Marwa Mahmoud Elsayed, PhD contact
Egypt1 site
Delta University for Science and Technology
Gamasa
Seham Mousa Abdelhady Mekawy, B.Sc, 01021179700, sehammekkawi1198@gmail.com
About this study
This study aims to examine the impact of aerobic training supported by AI-based monitoring on functional performance in university students with anemia.
Read the detailed description
Several studies in Egypt have reported a high prevalence of anemia across different age groups, with females consistently being more affected than males. Reported data show that nearly half of adolescent females (around 46-54%) and a substantial proportion of women of reproductive age (about 28-47%) are anemic. In addition, anemia affects approximately one-third of school-aged children and adolescents (around 35-36%), with even higher rates reported in some regions. Overall, these findings highlight that females and younger age groups represent the most vulnerable populations for anemia in Egypt.
Given the high prevalence of anemia in Egypt, it represents a major public health concern that should always be taken into consideration. Anemia and iron deficiency anemia have a significant negative impact on individuals' quality of life, affecting both physical and functional well-being. In many cases, they may also indicate the presence of underlying or more severe medical conditions.
Anemia can negatively affect functional ability, leading to fatigue, weakness, and reduced work performance. In addition, it may impair cognitive function, resulting in difficulties with attention and overall mental performance. These impairments may consequently contribute to poor academic performance.
Previous studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise, when combined with pharmacological treatment, leads to significant improvements in hemoglobin levels and anemia-related symptoms compared to medication alone.
Aerobic exercise has been shown to enhance respiratory function and aerobic capacity, contributing to improved functional performance and physical endurance, which highlights its importance as a non-pharmacological intervention in health promotion (İşleyen \& Dağlıoğlu, 2020).
Evidence suggests that acute moderate-intensity aerobic exercise may improve cognitive functions, including verbal memory and inhibitory control, in young adults within academic settings, highlighting its potential role in enhancing cognitive performance.
Digital health interventions have been shown to improve patient outcomes such as balance, mobility, upper limb function, and mental health, with effectiveness comparable to traditional rehabilitation. They increase access to care, support different stages of treatment, and enhance adherence through engaging and motivating tools. Integrating these technologies with structured aerobic training may further strengthen adherence, enable performance monitoring, and improve both cognitive and functional outcomes in anemic students.
Therefore, this study is important to investigate whether aerobic exercise supported by AI-based digital cognitive training and physical activity monitoring can improve cognitive abilities and functional performance in anemic university students. The AI-supported components may improve personalization, adherence, monitoring, and safety while providing a modern digital rehabilitation approach for this population.
- Conditions
- Anemia
- Being tested
- Aerobic Treadmill Training, AI-Supported Adaptive Cognitive Training, Standard Care for Anemia
- Medical subject headings
- Anemia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Aerobic Treadmill TrainingBehavioural
Participants in the experimental group will perform supervised moderate-intensity aerobic treadmill training three times per week for 12 weeks. Each 30-minute session will include a 5-minute warm-up, 20 minutes of treadmill walking at 60-70% of maximum heart rate (HRmax = 220 - age), and a 5-minute cool-down. Treadmill speed and/or incline will be individually adjusted to maintain the target intensity. Exercise progression will be guided by heart rate, perceived exertion, fatigue, symptoms, and weekly AI-assisted monitoring, with all clinical decisions made by the supervising physical therapist.
AI-Supported Adaptive Cognitive TrainingBehavioural
Participants in the experimental group will receive adaptive digital cognitive training using the BrainHQ application three times weekly for 12 weeks, alongside aerobic treadmill training. The program will include computerized cognitive exercises targeting attention, processing speed, and working memory. Task difficulty and training progression will be adapted according to individual performance to provide personalized cognitive stimulation. Training adherence and tolerance will be reviewed regularly by the researcher. Cognitive performance will be assessed before and after the intervention using the Trail Making Test (TMT) mobile application.
Standard Care for AnemiaOther
Participants in both groups will receive standard care for anemia throughout the 12-week study period, including usual medical and nutritional advice. Any physician-prescribed iron supplementation or other medications will be documented. Standard care will be provided alongside the assigned intervention in the experimental group, while participants in the control group will receive standard care without structured aerobic training or AI-supported cognitive training.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Aerobic Training + AI-Supported Cognitive Training + Standard Care | Experimental | Thirty participants will receive moderate-intensity aerobic treadmill training combined with AI-supported adaptive cognitive training using the BrainHQ application, in addition to standard care for anemia, for 12 weeks. Aerobic training will be performed three times weekly, with each 30-minute session consisting of a 5-minute warm-up, 20 minutes at 60-70% of maximum heart rate, and a 5-minute cool-down. BrainHQ cognitive training will be performed three times weekly. Google Fit will monitor daily physical activity, while weekly AI-assisted monitoring will assess adherence, fatigue, perceived exertion, and symptoms. Cognitive performance will be evaluated using the TMT application before and after the intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Aerobic Treadmill Training; Behavioral: AI-Supported Adaptive Cognitive Training; Other: Standard Care for Anemia |
| Standard Care Only | Active comparator | Thirty participants will receive standard care for anemia for 12 weeks, including usual medical and nutritional advice and any physician-prescribed iron supplementation or medication. Participants will not receive structured aerobic treadmill training or AI-supported cognitive training. Google Fit will be used to monitor daily physical activity, while the TMT application will be used to assess cognitive performance before and after the study period. Receives: Other: Standard Care for Anemia |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Six-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD)
Functional exercise capacity will be assessed using the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Participants will be instructed to walk as far as possible for six minutes along a 30-meter corridor. The total distance covered will be recorded in meters. The change in walking distance from baseline to the end of the 12-week intervention will be used to evaluate functional performance. A greater walking distance indicates better functional exercise capacity.
Measured: 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (7)
Trail Making Test Completion Time
Cognitive performance will be assessed using the Trail Making Test (TMT) mobile application. Completion time will be recorded in seconds to evaluate visual attention, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility. A shorter completion time indicates better performance.
Measured: 12 weeks
Trail Making Test Error Count
The number of errors made during the Trail Making Test (TMT) mobile assessment will be recorded before and after the intervention. A lower error count indicates better task performance.
Measured: 12 weeks
Hemoglobin Concentration
Hemoglobin concentration will be measured through laboratory blood analysis before and after the 12-week intervention. Results will be expressed in grams per deciliter (g/dL) to evaluate changes in anemia status.
Measured: 12 weeks
Serum Ferritin Concentration
Serum ferritin concentration will be measured through laboratory blood analysis before and after the intervention to assess changes in body iron stores. Results will be expressed in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL).
Measured: 12 weeks
Daily Step Count Measured by Google Fit
Daily step count will be monitored using the Google Fit application in both groups throughout the 12-week study period. Step count data will be recorded weekly to assess physical activity levels and identify changes in habitual activity. Results will be expressed as steps per day.
Measured: 12 weeks
Physical Activity Duration Measured by Google Fit
Active minutes will be monitored using the Google Fit application in both groups throughout the 12-week study period. Data will be recorded weekly to evaluate the duration of daily physical activity. Results will be expressed in minutes per day.
Measured: 12 weeks
Physical Activity Heart Points Measured by Google Fit
Google Fit Heart Points will be monitored in both groups throughout the 12-week study period as an indicator of physical activity intensity and duration. Data will be recorded weekly to evaluate physical activity patterns.
Measured: 12 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Oct 2026
- Study start30 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Oct 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AnemiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Seham Mousa Abdelhady, Cairo University
- Investigators
- Marwa Mahmoud Elsayed, PhD, Study chair, Ass. Professor, Cairo UniversitySalma Elsayed Mohammed Elsheikh, PhD, Study director, Lecturer, Cairo UniversityAli Fathi Soliman Elmorsi, PhD, Study director, Lecturer, Delta University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07882706
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P.T.REC/012/006649
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 20 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Aerobic Training Supported by AI-Based Monitoring on Functional Performance in University Students With Anemia
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07882706
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- P.T.REC/012/006649
- Conditions
- Anemia
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Oct 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to examine the impact of aerobic training supported by AI-based monitoring on functional performance in university students with anemia.
Detailed description
Several studies in Egypt have reported a high prevalence of anemia across different age groups, with females consistently being more affected than males. Reported data show that nearly half of adolescent females (around 46-54%) and a substantial proportion of women of reproductive age (about 28-47%) are anemic. In addition, anemia affects approximately one-third of school-aged children and adolescents (around 35-36%), with even higher rates reported in some regions. Overall, these findings highlight that females and younger age groups represent the most vulnerable populations for anemia in Egypt.
Given the high prevalence of anemia in Egypt, it represents a major public health concern that should always be taken into consideration. Anemia and iron deficiency anemia have a significant negative impact on individuals' quality of life, affecting both physical and functional well-being. In many cases, they may also indicate the presence of underlying or more severe medical conditions.
Anemia can negatively affect functional ability, leading to fatigue, weakness, and reduced work performance. In addition, it may impair cognitive function, resulting in difficulties with attention and overall mental performance. These impairments may consequently contribute to poor academic performance.
Previous studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise, when combined with pharmacological treatment, leads to significant improvements in hemoglobin levels and anemia-related symptoms compared to medication alone.
Aerobic exercise has been shown to enhance respiratory function and aerobic capacity, contributing to improved functional performance and physical endurance, which highlights its importance as a non-pharmacological intervention in health promotion (İşleyen \& Dağlıoğlu, 2020).
Evidence suggests that acute moderate-intensity aerobic exercise may improve cognitive functions, including verbal memory and inhibitory control, in young adults within academic settings, highlighting its potential role in enhancing cognitive performance.
Digital health interventions have been shown to improve patient outcomes such as balance, mobility, upper limb function, and mental health, with effectiveness comparable to traditional rehabilitation. They increase access to care, support different stages of treatment, and enhance adherence through engaging and motivating tools. Integrating these technologies with structured aerobic training may further strengthen adherence, enable performance monitoring, and improve both cognitive and functional outcomes in anemic students.
Therefore, this study is important to investigate whether aerobic exercise supported by AI-based digital cognitive training and physical activity monitoring can improve cognitive abilities and functional performance in anemic university students. The AI-supported components may improve personalization, adherence, monitoring, and safety while providing a modern digital rehabilitation approach for this population.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Aerobic Training + AI-Supported Cognitive Training + Standard Care | Experimental | Behavioral: Aerobic Treadmill Training, Behavioral: AI-Supported Adaptive Cognitive Training, Other: Standard Care for AnemiaThirty participants will receive moderate-intensity aerobic treadmill training combined with AI-supported adaptive cognitive training using the BrainHQ application, in addition to standard care for anemia, for 12 weeks. Aerobic training will be performed three times weekly, with each 30-minute session consisting of a 5-minute warm-up, 20 minutes at 60-70% of maximum heart rate, and a 5-minute cool-down. BrainHQ cognitive training will be performed three times weekly. Google Fit will monitor daily physical activity, while weekly AI-assisted monitoring will assess adherence, fatigue, perceived exertion, and symptoms. Cognitive performance will be evaluated using the TMT application before and after the intervention. |
| Standard Care Only | Active comparator | Other: Standard Care for AnemiaThirty participants will receive standard care for anemia for 12 weeks, including usual medical and nutritional advice and any physician-prescribed iron supplementation or medication. Participants will not receive structured aerobic treadmill training or AI-supported cognitive training. Google Fit will be used to monitor daily physical activity, while the TMT application will be used to assess cognitive performance before and after the study period. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (18 listed)
- Both genders students.
- Age range between 18-25 years.
- BMI between 18.5-29.9 kg/m².
- Diagnosed with mild to moderate anemia.
- Serum ferritin level (< 30 µg/l). (Sholzberg et al., 2025).
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Severe anemia requires immediate medical intervention.
- Presence of cardiovascular, respiratory, or neurological disorders affecting physical performance.
- Musculoskeletal conditions limiting exercise participation.
- Severe cognitive impairment interferes with assessment.
- Use of medications that may markedly affect heart rate, exercise tolerance, cognitive function, or hemoglobin level.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Aerobic Treadmill TrainingParticipants in the experimental group will perform supervised moderate-intensity aerobic treadmill training three times per week for 12 weeks. Each 30-minute session will include a 5-minute warm-up, 20 minutes of treadmill walking at 60-70% of maximum heart rate (HRmax = 220 - age), and a 5-minute cool-down. Treadmill speed and/or incline will be individually adjusted to maintain the target intensity. Exercise progression will be guided by heart rate, perceived exertion, fatigue, symptoms, and weekly AI-assisted monitoring, with all clinical decisions made by the supervising physical therapist. | Behavioural | Aerobic Training + AI-Supported Cognitive Training + Standard Care |
| AI-Supported Adaptive Cognitive TrainingParticipants in the experimental group will receive adaptive digital cognitive training using the BrainHQ application three times weekly for 12 weeks, alongside aerobic treadmill training. The program will include computerized cognitive exercises targeting attention, processing speed, and working memory. Task difficulty and training progression will be adapted according to individual performance to provide personalized cognitive stimulation. Training adherence and tolerance will be reviewed regularly by the researcher. Cognitive performance will be assessed before and after the intervention using the Trail Making Test (TMT) mobile application. | Behavioural | Aerobic Training + AI-Supported Cognitive Training + Standard Care |
| Standard Care for AnemiaParticipants in both groups will receive standard care for anemia throughout the 12-week study period, including usual medical and nutritional advice. Any physician-prescribed iron supplementation or other medications will be documented. Standard care will be provided alongside the assigned intervention in the experimental group, while participants in the control group will receive standard care without structured aerobic training or AI-supported cognitive training. | Other | Aerobic Training + AI-Supported Cognitive Training + Standard Care, Standard Care Only |
Primary outcome
Six-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Functional exercise capacity will be assessed using the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Participants will be instructed to walk as far as possible for six minutes along a 30-meter corridor. The total distance covered will be recorded in meters. The change in walking distance from baseline to the end of the 12-week intervention will be used to evaluate functional performance. A greater walking distance indicates better functional exercise capacity.
7 secondary outcomes
Trail Making Test Completion Time
Time frame: 12 weeks
Trail Making Test Error Count
Time frame: 12 weeks
Hemoglobin Concentration
Time frame: 12 weeks
Serum Ferritin Concentration
Time frame: 12 weeks
Daily Step Count Measured by Google Fit
Time frame: 12 weeks
Physical Activity Duration Measured by Google Fit
Time frame: 12 weeks
Physical Activity Heart Points Measured by Google Fit
Time frame: 12 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Oct 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Marwa Mahmoud Elsayed, PhD contact
Marwa Mahmoud Elsayed, PhD study chair
Ass. Professor, Cairo University
Salma Elsayed Mohammed Elsheikh, PhD study director
Lecturer, Cairo University
Ali Fathi Soliman Elmorsi, PhD study director
Lecturer, Delta University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Aerobic Treadmill Training and AI-Supported Adaptive Cognitive Training in people with Anemia, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 18 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Seham Mousa Abdelhady Mekawy, B.Sc (01021179700, sehammekkawi1198@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Six-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD) (time frame: 12 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Oct 2026.