MedPath

The SMARTEX Heart Failure Study

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Heart Failure
Registration Number
NCT00917046
Lead Sponsor
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Brief Summary

This protocol describes a randomized multicenter clinical trial designed to test the hypothesis that a 12-week program of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) yields larger beneficial effects in stable heart failure patients than current practice, defined as either a similar training program with the same volume of moderate continuous training (MCT) or a recommendation of regular exercise at moderate intensity at individual choice (RRE).

Detailed Description

Evaluation criteria are left ventricular dimensions and function measured by echocardiography, aerobic capacity measured as peak oxygen uptake, quality of life, and the level of physical activity by questionnaires. Assessments will be made before and after the training program and at one year follow-up. Safety of HIIT will be assessed as incidence of adverse effects during the training program. Clinical events will be recorded as worsening of heart failure requiring intensified drug therapy (diuretics), ventricular arrhythmia, hospitalization due to cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality at one year follow-up. The core study has been initiated and endorsed by the European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, Section for Basic and Translational Research, under the European Society of Cardiology, and allows for sub-studies involving one or more of the participating centers. Preliminary calculations suggest that a total number of 200 patients randomized 1:1:1 to the three intervention groups is needed to detect larger beneficial effects with HIIT with a p-value of 0.05 and statistical power of 0.90 (primary endpoint is reverse remodeling, assessed by comparison between groups of change in left ventricular end-diastolic dimension from baseline to 12 weeks).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
261
Inclusion Criteria
  • Congestive heart failure after myocardial infarction or dilated cardiomyopathy with:

    • LVEF < 0.35,
    • NYHA class II - III,
    • Stable without any signs of worsening for at least 6 weeks,
    • Minimum 3 months of optimal medical treatment,
    • Previous revascularisation or CRT should be more than 6 months before inclusion.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Significant intercurrent illness last 6 weeks,
  • Known severe ventricular arrhythmia with functional or prognostic significance unless protected with ICD,
  • Significant ischemia,
  • Hemodynamic deterioration or exercise-induced arrhythmia at baseline testing,
  • Other heart disease that limits exercise tolerance (valve disease with significant hemodynamic consequences, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy etc.,
  • Co-morbidity that may significantly influence one-year prognosis,
  • Functional or mental disability that may limit exercise,
  • Patients scheduled for heart transplant at time of inclusion,
  • A habit of regular vigorous exercise or participation in a program of exercise training less than 6 months before inclusion, or participation in another clinical trial,
  • Patients with COPD with FEV1 below 50% of expected values are excluded,
  • Patients taking oral corticosteroids are excluded in all cases.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
comparison between groups in change of left ventricular end diastolic diameter from baseline to 12 weeksBaseline-12 weeks
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Exercise capacitybaseline-12 weeks- 1year
quality of lifebaseline - 12 weeks - 1 year
safety and adverse eventsbaseline-12 weeks - 1 year
level of physical activitybaseline-12 weeks- 1 year
Change in Ejection fraction12 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (11)

University Hospital Antwerp

🇧🇪

Antwerp, Belgium

Bispebjerg University Hospital

🇩🇰

Copenhagen, Denmark

Universitaet Leipzig, Herzzentrum GmbH

🇩🇪

Leipzig, Germany

Technische Universitaet Munich

🇩🇪

Munich, Germany

Scientific Institute of Veruno

🇮🇹

Veruno, Italy

Centre Hospitaliers de Luxembourg

🇱🇺

Luxembourg, Luxembourg

University Medical Center Utrecht

🇳🇱

Utrecht, Netherlands

Ålesund Hospital

🇳🇴

Alesund, Norway

Levanger Hospital

🇳🇴

Levanger, Norway

Stavanger University Hospital

🇳🇴

Stavanger, Norway

Scroll for more (1 remaining)
University Hospital Antwerp
🇧🇪Antwerp, Belgium

MedPath

Empowering clinical research with data-driven insights and AI-powered tools.

© 2025 MedPath, Inc. All rights reserved.