Effects of a Rehabilitation Program on Immune Activation and Mood in Heart Failure Patients

Ludwig-Boltzmann Institut fuer Rheumatologie, Balneologie und Rehabilitation

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depressive Symptoms; Heart Failure

Treatments: Behavioral: multi-modality rehabilitation program for heart failure

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02358525

J3256

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this descriptive study is to examine potential changes regarding inflammatory cytokine levels, depressive symptoms and quality of life over the course of the 4-week inpatient rehabilitation program which includes a cassette of modalities including counseling, psychosocial education and supervised exercise training as a main pillar, and to further investigate if there are correlations between changes in immune regulation, depressive symptoms and quality of life.

Enrollment: 16 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 85 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF) with an EF ≤ 45%, NYHA (New York Heart Association) I - III; ACC/AHA (American College of Cariology/ American Heart Association) stage C, irrespective of etiology
• Clinically stable patients without deterioration or hospitalization due to heart failure within the last 4 weeks
• Neuro-hormonal medication according to the ESC (European Society of Cardiology) guidelines for the treatment of chronic heart failure consisting of antagonists of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) and beta-blockers as indicated.
• Ability to fully understand all elements of and sign the written informed consent before initiation of the study

Exclusion criteria

• Fluid retention of cardiac decompensation, necessitating i.v. diuretic therapy
• Myocardial infarction within the last 2 months
• Surgery including cardiovascular or valvular surgery within 3 Months
• Uncontrolled proinflammatory comorbidities (e.g. Diabetes mellitus HbA1c >9%, COPD ( chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) >II, active rheumatic diseases and autoimmune disorders)
• Current infectious diseases ( e.g. pneumonia, COPD exacerbations or urinary tract infections)
• Morbid obesity: BMI > 40
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• psychiatric disorders