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Cardiac Rehabilitation for the Treatment of Refractory Angina

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Coronary Disease
Angina Pectoris
Interventions
Behavioral: Cardiac rehabilitation
Registration Number
NCT00411359
Lead Sponsor
National Heart and Lung Institute
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether cardiac rehabilitation is a successful treatment for refractory angina, in relation to improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, physical ability, symptomology, quality of life and psychological morbidity.

Detailed Description

The majority of patients presenting with angina pectoris resulting from coronary artery disease (CHD) are successfully treated with interventions including coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and medical management. However, a growing number of patients experience persistent angina in spite of intervention and optimal medical treatment. Such patients are referred to as suffering from 'refractory angina'.

Currently, cardiac rehabilitation centres are reluctant to accept patients with ongoing angina or complicated cardiovascular history, in spite of the duration or stability of the symptoms. Indeed, angina and heart failure are often used to exclude patients from cardiac rehabilitation. However, in the recent updated American Heart Association (AHA) recommendations for exercise and training, cardiac rehabilitation and supervised exercise training is recommended for patients with ongoing angina, previous history of CABG, MI, PTCA and patients with existing cardiomyopathy in order to promote a reduction in myocardial ischaemia at rest and during sub-maximal exercise, while reducing the risk for the progression of CHD. Nevertheless, studies exploring the physiological and psychological impact of routinely available CR as a stand-alone intervention among refractory angina patients have not previously been undertaken. Until such studies are performed, CR practitioners will continue to refuse to accept refractory angina patients for participation in CR.

Research questions:

* Is an eight-week cardiac rehabilitation exercise programme an appropriate treatment option for patients with refractory angina?

* Does an eight-week cardiac rehabilitation exercise programme improve the physical functioning and cardiovascular health of patients with refractory angina?

* Is symptom severity and frequency reduced following an eight-week cardiac rehabilitation exercise programme in patients with refractory angina?

* Does an eight-week cardiac rehabilitation exercise programme have any impact on anxiety, depression, cardiac anxiety and quality of life in patients with refractory angina?

* Are any physiological or psychological effects acquired by patients with refractory angina participating in a cardiac rehabilitation exercise programme maintained at an eight-week follow-up?

The study is conceived as a randomised intervention-control study of a standard, routinely available Phase III hospital-based CR program among patients with refractory angina. Patients will be randomly assigned to an eight-week CR programme based at Harefield Hospital or symptom diary monitoring control group.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
42
Inclusion Criteria
  • Clinically diagnosed with refractory angina > 6 months
  • Two or more episodes of angina per week
  • Males and females aged 30 - 80
  • Previous history of single or multiple myocardial infarction (MI), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or any combination of the above
  • Prescribed optimal medical therapy
  • AHA exercise and training guidelines classification B and C
  • Willing to give written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • History of any other chronic illness
  • AHA exercise and training guidelines classification class D
  • Suffer any physical condition for which exercise is a contra-indication
  • Participation in two or more periods of planned moderate intensity exercise per week during the past 6 months
  • Participation in another research study within the previous 60 days
  • History of psychiatric illness
  • Unwilling to give written informed consent

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Cardiac rehabilitationCardiac rehabilitation8-week cardiac rehabilitation programme
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Health anxietyBase, week 8 (post intervention/monitoring), week 16 (8 weeks post intervention/monitoring)

Health anxiety questionnaire (HAQ)

Generalised anxiety and depressionBase, week 8 (post intervention/monitoring), week 16 (8 weeks post intervention/monitoring)

Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Systolic and diastolic blood pressureBase, week 8 (post intervention/monitoring), week 16 (8 weeks post intervention/monitoring)

Measured after 10 minutes sitting, using automated machine (eg. Omron machine)

Heart rateBase, week 8 (post intervention/monitoring), week 16 (8 weeks post intervention/monitoring)

Heart rate measured using automated machine (eg. Omron blood pressure machine) or manually at the radial pulse

AnthropomometryBase, week 8 (post intervention/monitoring), week 16 (8 weeks post intervention/monitoring)

Weight, height, waist circumference (tape measure), hip circumference (tape measure), body mass index calculated from height and weight using the following website: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmi-m.htm

Fasting lipidsBase, week 8 (post intervention/monitoring), week 16 (8 weeks post intervention/monitoring)

total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides. Measured in biochemistry departments of the Royal Brompton \& Harefield NHS Foundation Trust using standard techniques.

Social supportBaseline

Measured using the ENRICHED social support instrument (ESSI)

Angina related health beliefsBase, week 8 (post intervention/monitoring), week 16 (8 weeks post intervention/monitoring)

Measured using the York angina beliefs scale.

Physical activity and exercise capacityBase, week 8 (post intervention/monitoring), week 16 (8 weeks post intervention/monitoring)

Progressive shuttle walk test

Angina frequency and severityBase, week 8 (post intervention/monitoring), week 16 (8 weeks post intervention/monitoring)

Subjects completed a daily symptom monitoring diary

Quality of lifeBase, week 8 (post intervention/monitoring), week 16 (8 weeks post intervention/monitoring)

SF-36 quality of life scale

Plasma glucoseBase, post intervention/monitoring, 8 weeks post intervention/monitoring

Measured in the biochemistry departments of the Royal Brompton \& Harefield NHS Foundation Trust using standard techniques.

Urea & electrolytesBase, post intervention/monitoring, 8 weeks post intervention/monitoring

Measured in the biochemistry departments of the Royal Brompton \& Harefield NHS Foundation Trust using standard techniques

Liver function testsBaseline, post intervention/monitoring, 8 weeks post intervention/monitoring

Measured in the biochemistry departments of the Royal Brompton \& Harefield NHS Foundation Trust using standard techniques.

Thyroid function testsBaseline, post intervention/monitoring, 8 weeks post intervention/monitoring

Measured in the biochemistry departments of the Royal Brompton \& Harefield NHS Foundation Trust using standard techniques.

HbBaseline, post intervention/monitoring, 8 weeks post intervention/monitoring

Measured in the haematology departments of the Royal Brompton \& Harefield NHS Foundation Trust using standard techniques.

HbA1C (if diabetic)Baseline, post intervention/monitoring, 8 weeks post intervention/monitoring

Measured in the haematology department of the Royal Brompton \& Harefield NHS Foundation Trust using standard techniques

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London

🇬🇧

London, United Kingdom

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