Exercise Training for Heart Failure

(HFpEF Trial)

This trial aims to improve treatment for people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), where the heart pumps normally but is stiff or thick, making it hard to fill with blood. The trial will test a new program called BOOST, which combines exercise, coaching, and group support to determine its effectiveness for this condition. Participants will be older adults who have heart failure symptoms and a heart that pumps at least half the blood inside it with each beat. As an unphased trial, it provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance the quality of life for those with HFpEF.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you should not have any significant changes in your cardiac medication or heart failure symptoms within 3 weeks before joining the trial.

Research has shown that exercise is generally safe and well-tolerated for people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). One study found that supervised exercise improved symptoms without causing major side effects. Most participants did not experience serious issues, and any mild problems, such as muscle soreness, were temporary and manageable.

Unlike the standard heart failure treatments that often involve medications like beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors, BOOST is an innovative approach combining exercise, behavioral strategies, and coaching. This treatment protocol is unique because it focuses on a holistic method, integrating aerobic exercise with group counseling to improve patients' heart health and overall well-being. Researchers are excited about BOOST because it offers a non-pharmacological alternative that could enhance quality of life for older adults with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), a group for whom existing medications may not be as effective.

Research has shown that exercise can greatly benefit people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). One study found that exercise improved heart and lung fitness by an average of 2.72 liters per minute. Other studies indicate that exercise increases activity levels and enhances quality of life for those with HFpEF. Supervised exercise, in particular, eases symptoms and enhances overall well-being. Additionally, high-intensity exercise has been linked to small but meaningful improvements in physical ability. Overall, exercise offers a promising way to manage HFpEF. Participants in this trial will engage in a multi-domain behavioral, coaching, and exercise protocol to further explore these benefits.²⁴⁵⁶⁷