NMES in HF Patients to Improve Functional Recovery Following Hospitalization (NeuHFRecover)

University of Vermont Medical Center

Status

Completed

Conditions

Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Treatments

Device: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT05338437

STUDY00001757

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this research study is to understand whether an at-home exercise program started after hospitalization for HFpEF, and continuing for 4 weeks following discharge from the hospital, can preserve or improve physical function.

Full description

Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization among adults in the US with patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) comprising half of those admissions. Many patients exhibit chronic fatigue, exercise intolerance and an inability to perform activities of daily living, which is exacerbated by hospitalization. The goal of this research study is to understand whether an at-home exercise program started soon after hospitalization and continuing for 4 weeks following discharge can improve functional recovery in HFpEF patients. Volunteers will be randomly assigned to receive neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of their quadriceps muscles or not to receive NMES (control group). Volunteers will be evaluated during hospitalization and 4 weeks following discharge. Assessments will include measurements of physical function by 6 minute walk test and the Short Physical Performance Battery, as well as assessment of subjective physical functional capacity and quality of life using the Medical Outcomes Short form 36 and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy questionnaire.

Enrollment

9 patients

Sex

All

Ages

50 to 90 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

50-90 years of age
clinical diagnosis of HF being actively managed during hospitalization
live within 30 miles of the medical center
able to perform informed consent

Exclusion criteria

rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory/autoimmune disease
cancer, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer or low-grade prostate cancer
severe dementia/alzheimer's disease
exercise limiting peripheral vascular disease
neuromuscular disease or neuromuscular dysfunction associated with cerebrovascular event
body mass index ≥40 kg/m2
lower extremity blood clot or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or pacemaker