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Activity at Pulse Pressure Above an Individual Threshold in Patients With LVAD

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Heart Failure
Interventions
Behavioral: Daily physical activity
Registration Number
NCT02304965
Lead Sponsor
Hannover Medical School
Brief Summary

Pilot study in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist device (cfLVAD) to proof the feasibility of a specific individual training at home aimed to increase pulse pressure above a predefined threshold which might attenuate the loss of arterial wall thickness.

Hypothesis:

Increasing daily physical activity near to normal (\> 10.000 steps per day) with a pre-defined level of pulse pressure (intensity) is a realizable and feasible approach to investigate changes in arterial wall thickness and cardio-respiratory capacity in cfLVAD patients.

Detailed Description

The investigators will study 3 cfLVAD patients with low pulse pressure during work package 1 using two different exercises, treadmill and bicycle. Walking and cycling present the most commonly used physical activities which are applicable to most individuals on a daily basis. The investigators aim to demonstrate that individual changes of pulse pressure during these types of exercise can be assessed in cfLVAD patients.

In a feasibility study (work package 2) the investigator will enroll 6 cfLVAD patients to perform home-based physical activity programs including walking a defined number of steps per day with a predefined speed and cycling with a predefined power \[watt\] on a bicycle ergometer. The performance of the patients will be monitored over seven days using a wearable activity device.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
7
Inclusion Criteria
  • age 45 to 65
  • men
  • time since cfLVAD implantation > 3 months and < 6 months
  • low pulse pressure at rest, (no pulsatility)
Exclusion Criteria
  • musculoskeletal comorbidities restricting exercise
  • known diabetes mellitus Type 1 and 2
  • acute or chronic infections
  • coronary heart disease before cfLVAD implantation
  • no pulsatility with increasing exercise

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Daily physical activityDaily physical activityEligible subjects will be included in the feasibility study to conduct an individualized and structured training program with defined walking and cycling on a bicycle ergometer for 2 months.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline in brachial artery smooth muscle thicknessAt baseline and after 2 months

Unit: mm

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline in peak oxygen consumptionAt baseline and after 2 months

Unit: ml/min/kg

Change from baseline in pulse pressure during rest and exerciseAt baseline and after 2 months

Unit: mm/Hg

Change from baseline in daily physical activityAt baseline, after week 3, week 6, and after 2 months

Unit: Steps per day assessed with a wearable activity device

Change from baseline in quality of life questionnaire (SF-36)At baseline and after 2 months

Unit: points

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hannover Medical School

🇩🇪

Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany

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