Exercise and Diet Supplements for Older Patients Undergoing TAVI: the IRON-TAVI Trial (IRON-TAVI)

Participants will receive standard care plus a personalized multidomain program including supervised exercise sessions before and after transcatheter aortic valve implantation, a structured home-based exercise program, individualized nutritional counseling, and daily oral protein and iron supplementation. The intervention starts before the procedure and continues for three months after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Participants assigned to the multidomain intervention will receive a personalized exercise training program beginning before transcatheter aortic valve implantation and continuing for three months after the procedure. The program includes five supervised exercise sessions, two before and three after the procedure, together with a structured home-based exercise program. Exercise includes walking, mobility exercises, sit-to-stand exercises, balance training, and progressive functional strengthening. Exercise intensity and progression will be individualized according to symptoms, physical performance, clinical condition, and exercise tolerance.

Participants assigned to the multidomain intervention will receive individualized nutritional counseling and daily oral nutritional supplementation containing protein and iron. Supplementation will start after randomization, before transcatheter aortic valve implantation, and will continue for three months after the procedure. The nutritional intervention will be adapted according to baseline nutritional status, body weight, appetite, renal function, clinical condition, and tolerance. Adherence and tolerability will be monitored throughout the intervention period.

Participants will receive standard care according to current clinical practice, including transcatheter aortic valve implantation, guideline-directed medical management, routine follow-up, and general advice regarding physical activity and a balanced diet. No structured study-driven exercise program or protocol-mandated nutritional supplementation will be provided.

Participants assigned to the control group will receive standard care according to current clinical practice, including transcatheter aortic valve implantation, guideline-directed medical management, routine follow-up, and general advice regarding physical activity and a balanced diet. No structured study-driven exercise program or protocol-mandated nutritional supplementation will be provided.

Composite clinical outcome defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of all-cause death, stroke, or hospital readmission for cardiovascular causes. Clinical events will be independently adjudicated by a blinded Clinical Event Committee according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 definitions whenever applicable.

Clinical outcome defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of all-cause death.

Clinical outcome defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of cardiovascular death.

Clinical outcome defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of stroke.

Clinical outcome defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of myocardial infarction.

Clinical outcome defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of hospital readmission for heart failure

Clinical outcome defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of hospital readmission for cardiovascular cause

Clinical outcome defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of hospital readmission for any cause

The primary safety endpoint is the cumulative occurrence of adverse events related to exercise training or dietary supplementation. These include, but are not limited to, angina resurgence, heart failure worsening, bleeding, falls or traumatism related to exercise training, and worsening renal function or other clinically relevant adverse effects related to dietary supplementation.