Novel Respiratory Training as Part of Palliative Care for Older Adults With Heart Failure

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH · Aug 26, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring a new way to help older adults with heart failure improve their physical abilities and quality of life through a program called inspiratory muscle training (IMT). The researchers believe that older patients, aged 70 and above, can safely and effectively do this training at home for 12 weeks. They expect that participants who engage in IMT will see improvements in their ability to perform daily activities, like standing up and walking, along with better breathing, reduced fatigue, and an overall better sense of well-being compared to those who receive standard care.

To be eligible for this trial, participants need to be 70 years or older and diagnosed with advanced heart failure, which means their heart does not pump blood as well as it should. They must also be receiving appropriate heart failure treatment. However, individuals living in care facilities or those with certain serious health conditions, like severe lung disease or recent major heart events, cannot take part. Participants can expect to follow a guided training program from home, and their progress will be monitored throughout the study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients with Advanced Heart Failure (HFrEF or HFpEF), with NYHA class II, III, or IV despite a minimum of
• • 6 weeks of treatment
• • Age \>70 years
• • Male and Female
• • Optimal therapy according to AHA/ACC and HFSA HF guidelines
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients living in an institutional setting (e.g., skilled nursing home) during the intended period of this study.
• • Major cardiovascular event or procedure within the prior 6 weeks.
• • HF secondary to significant uncorrected primary valvular disease (except mitral regurgitation secondary to left ventricular dysfunction). If valve replacement has been performed, the participant may not be enrolled for 12 months after this procedure.
• • Dementia
• • Severe COPD (FEV1\<50%), PVD, and/or Anemia
• • End-stage malignancy
• • Severe valvular heart disease
• • Psychiatric hospitalization within the last 3 months
• • Chronic ETOH or drug dependency.
• We will exclude all of the following special populations:
• • Adults unable to consent
• • Individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers)
• • Pregnant women
• • Prisoners