MedPath

Peripheral Metabolic Function in Chronic Heart Failure Patients

Not Applicable
Conditions
Chronic Heart Failure
Interventions
Behavioral: Exercise training
Registration Number
NCT02732990
Lead Sponsor
Anders Rasmussen Rinnov
Brief Summary

Exercise intolerance is a major limiting symptom in patients with CHF. However the poor correlation between the hemodynamic parameters of left ventricular performance at rest and exercise performance has led to the concept that peripheral factors such as muscle perfusion and muscle metabolism play a role as determinants of exercise capacity.

Detailed Description

The pathophysiology behind the breathlessness and fatigue experienced by CHF patients during exercise remains unclear. Recent evidence suggests that the peripheral skeletal muscle, which becomes abnormal in heart failure, is the source of afferent signals which disrupt normal patterns of cardiorespiratory control. When CHF patients exercise, an inappropriately strong sympathetic response further limits exercise tolerance by evoking larger than normal increases in peripheral sympathetic activation at a faster rate than in healthy individuals. A consequence of this exacerbated sympathetic response may be the further sympathetic restraint of blood flow to the active skeletal muscles resulting in hypoperfusion of the muscle vascular bed and fatigue. Small muscle mass exercise training increases muscle oxidative capacity and improves aerobic work capacity in CHF patients. A range of studies is proposed here that will provide an integrative view of the mechanistic basis behind exercise intolerance in CHF and relate the intramuscular metabolic status to the autonomic control of hemodynamics during exercise. An understanding of the mechanistic basis of the improved exercise tolerance with training, independent of improved resting cardiac function, will yield important information regarding the integrated control of blood flow and metabolic demand in CHF and highlight the importance of maintaining the integrity of the peripheral musculature in CHF.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II - III
  • Ejection fraction <35%
  • Heart failure as a result of previous myocardial infarction
  • Optimal treatment (ACE-inhibitors, beta-blockers)
  • Stable heart failure
  • Patients with and without implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Peripheral vascular disease with symptoms of atherosclerosis (intermittent claudication)
  • Aneurysm in a. femoral
  • Moderate to severe heart valve disease
  • Moderate to severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) with FEV1 <60%
  • Heart Failure Patients with Biventricular pacemaker (BVP)
  • Serious heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and frequent premature ventricular contractions)
  • Myocardial infarction within the last month
  • Unstable angina (angina pectoris)
  • Renal failure (creatinine greater than 2.5 mg / dL)
  • Severe systemic disease of the nervous system, pulmonary or other severe organ involvement
  • BMI> 30
  • Pregnancy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Exercise training - One-legged exerciseExercise trainingControl subjects will train high intense one-legged exercise for 6 weeks
Exercise training - 2-legged cycling CHFExercise trainingCHF patients will train 2-legged cycling (whole body exercise) for 6 weeks
Exercise training - Whole body exerciseExercise trainingControl subjects will train 2-legged cycling (whole body exercise) for 6 weeks
Exercise training - CHFExercise trainingCHF Patients will train high intense one-legged exercise for 6 weeks
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline sympathetic nerve activity after 6 weeks of training6 weeks

Sympathetic nerve activity, measured in plasma and dialysat with reference to nor-adrenaline.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The effect of exercise training on exercise capacity in regards to a 6 min walk test6 weeks

Exercise capacity in regards to a 6 min walk test (meters) will be evaluated before and after the training intervention

The effect of exercise training on exercise capacity in regards to oxygen uptake6 weeks

Exercise capacity in regards to oxygen uptake (VO2peak) will be evaluated before and after the training intervention

The effect of exercise training on exercise capacity in regards to maximal workload6 weeks

Exercise capacity in regards to Workload during 2-legged cycling (Wattpeak) will be evaluated before and after the training intervention

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism (CIM), Centre for Physical Activity Research

🇩🇰

Copenhagen, Denmark

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath