Leg Heat Therapy to Improve Functional Performance in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)
Indiana University
Summary
The objective of this pilot study is to establish evidence to support the validity of HT in improving skeletal muscle function and physical capacity of patients with HFpEF. Our central hypothesis is that HT treatment will lead to improvements in skeletal muscle and microvascular function compared to a control intervention. As a result, we anticipate that patients treated with HT will demonstrate improved skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow and oxygenation resulting in enhanced exercise tolerance. To explore this hypothesis, we propose the following specific aim: Explore the effects of home-based HT on exercise tolerance in patients with HFpEF.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women older than 18 years * Established diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% as evidenced by Doppler echocardiography and/or ratio of the early mitral inflow velocity (E) to septal tissue Doppler velocity (e') \>8 and at least 1 other sign of chronically elevated filling pressures, including an enlarged left atrium (left atrial volume index \>34 mL/m2), an elevated N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) level within the past year, long-term loop diuretic use for…
Interventions
- DeviceLeg heat therapy
A sous vide heating immersion circulator heats up the water inside the water tank to 42ºC. A water pump circulates temperature-regulated water through the trousers.
- DeviceLeg sham therapy
A sous vide heating immersion circulator heats up the water inside the water tank to 33ºC. A water pump circulates temperature-regulated water through the trousers.
Locations (2)
- IU Health MethodistIndianapolis, Indiana
- IU Health University HospitalIndianapolis, Indiana