Optimization of STAR

Launched by UMC UTRECHT · Jul 3, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a program called STAR (SympTom mAnagement self-caRe) designed to help people with heart failure better monitor and manage their symptoms. The goal is to find the best parts of this program to improve patients’ quality of life, reduce bothersome symptoms, and possibly decrease the need for hospital visits. The study will involve 320 patients from several heart failure clinics in the Netherlands and aims to create an effective and easy-to-use support system that can be offered more widely in healthcare settings.

People who might join the study are adults diagnosed with heart failure who have symptoms classified as NYHA class II or III, which means they experience some limitations with physical activity but are still stable on their current treatment. Participants need to be able to understand and communicate in Dutch and have a life expectancy of more than six months. Those living in care homes or currently hospitalized cannot take part. If you join, you’ll be part of testing different parts of the STAR program to see which work best for helping you manage your heart failure at home. The study is not yet recruiting, but it hopes to offer a valuable tool that makes living with heart failure easier.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosed with HF (irrespective of ejection fraction) and symptomatic NYHA class II or III.
• • 18 years or older.
• • Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
• • Life expectancy \>6 months.
• • Optimal medical HF treatment following ESC HF guidelines (i.e. 'patients with stable HF').
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Participants living in a care facility (e.g. nursing home, revalidation center).
• • Language barrier preventing sufficient understanding and communication in Dutch.
• • Participants who are hospitalized during inclusion.