Impact of Exercise Training on Exercise Capacity in Patients With Severe Chronic Heart Failure

July 31, 2007 updated by: University of Leipzig

Impact of Three Months of Aerobic Exercise Training on Exercise Capacity and Peripheral Maladaptations in Patients With Severe Chronic Heart Failure (NYHA III b)

Patients with heart failure are limited in their exercise capacity due to skeletal muscle alteration and an impairment of peripheral perfusion. Regular physical exercise training has been shown to partially correct these peripheral maladaptations in patients with stable heart failure, which was associated with an improvement in exercise capacity. However, it is unknown so far, whether regular physical activity also exerts beneficial effects in patients with severe chronic heart failure.

Aim of the trial is therefore to assess the effects of aerobic exercise training on exercise capacity, muscle maladaptations and peripheral perfusion in patients with severe chronic heart failure according to NYHA class III b.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

A total of 36 patients with severe chronic heart failure are prospectively randomized to either 3 months of aerobic ergometer training or a sedentary control group.

Before and after the intervention period maximal exercise capacity is assessed by ergospirometry, endothelial function is determined by high-resolution A-mode ultrasound, and muscle mass is determined by CT. Skeletal muscle biopsies are obtained at begin and after 3 months and are analyzed for markers of muscle catabolism/anabolism.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

36

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Germany
    • Saxony
      • Leipzig, Saxony, Germany, 04289
        • University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Department of Internal Medicine / Cardiology

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • chronic heart failure (NYHA class III b)
  • peak oxygen uptake <20 mL/min/kg body weight
  • left ventricular ejection fraction <25 %
  • left ventricular end-diastolic diameter >60 mm

Exclusion Criteria:

  • exercise-induced myocardial ischemia
  • cardiac decompensation within the last 8 weeks
  • ventricular arrhythmias (>Lown 4b) in patients not protected by an ICD
  • insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  • uncontrolled arterial hypertension
  • orthopedic conditions excluding training participation
  • body mass index >30 kg/m2

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Peak oxygen uptake

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Endothelial function
Skeletal muscle mass
Markers of muscle anabolism / catabolism

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Leipzig

Collaborators

Deutsche Stiftung für Herzforschung

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Rainer P Hambrecht, MD, University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Department of Internal Medicine / Cardiology, Leipzig, Germany

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

March 1, 2003

Study Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2006

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 10, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 10, 2005

First Posted (Estimate)

September 15, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

August 1, 2007

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 31, 2007

Last Verified

July 1, 2007

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • F21/02

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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