Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Effect of Pedometer-Based Walking Intervention on Functional Capacity and Neurohumoral Modulation in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Brief Summary: A multicenter randomized controlled trial, with follow-up at 6 and 12 months. Physically inactive participants with chronic heart failure with preserved or mid-range ejection fraction will be randomly assigned to intervention or control arms.

The six-month intervention will consist of an individualized pedometer-based walking program with weekly step goals, monthly face-to-face sessions with the physician, and monthly telephone calls with the research nurse. The intervention will be based on effective behavioral principles (goal setting, self-monitoring, personalized feedback).

The primary outcome is the change in 6-minute walk distance at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include changes in serum biomarkers levels, pulmonary congestion assessed by ultrasound, average daily step count measured by accelerometry, anthropometric measures, symptoms of depression, health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, and MAGGIC Risk Score.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of chronic HF
* Percentage of blood pumped from the left ventricle (ventricular ejection fraction) less than 40% for at least 1 year prior to study entry
* Stable medical regimen, defined as no major changes in medication, in the 3 months prior to study entry
* New York Heart Association Classification of Class I (no activity limitations), Class II (slight activity limitations), or Class III (marked activity limitations)
* English-speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unstable angina, myocardial infarction, cardiac resynchronization, or major cardiac surgery within 3 months prior to study entry
* History of cardiac arrest or diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy within 6 months prior to study entry
* Unstable ventricular arrhythmias or structural valvular disease
* Current participation in a conventional cardiac rehabilitation program
* Inability to perform a bicycle stress test at study entry
* Lower extremity amputation or other inability to walk due to conditions other than HF
* Severe cognitive dysfunction preventing informed consent and understanding of tai chi concept
* Current regular practice of tai chi
* Current participation in a tai chi pilot study or other studies
B: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of heart failure with preserved (HFpEF) or mid-range (HFmrEF) ejection fraction with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or III symptoms. The diagnosis requires the following conditions to be fulfilled:

   1. the presence of symptoms and/or signs of heart failure,
   2. left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50% (HFpEF) or 40-49% (HFmrEF),
   3. elevated levels of natriuretic peptides (BNP \>35 pg/ml and/or NT-proBNP \>125 pg/mL),
   4. objective evidence of other cardiac functional and structural alterations underlying heart failure.
2. Physically inactive, as determined by a question "As a rule, do you do at least half an hour of moderate or vigorous exercise (such as walking or a sport) on five or more days of the week?".

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Signs and symptoms of decompensated heart failure, uncontrolled arrhythmia or effort angina, severe or symptomatic aortic stenosis, persistent hypotension, recent shocks delivered by the automated implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
2. Co-morbid conditions that would affect adherence to trial procedures (e.g. inflammatory arthritis, active malignancy, renal disease requiring dialysis, uncontrolled diabetes, major depression or other significant psychiatric disorders, cognitive impairment, significant hearing or visual impairment).
3. Major surgery planned within the next 12 months.
4. Life expectancy shorter than 12 months.
5. Inability to walk from any reason.
6. Baseline six-minute walking distance \>450 meters. Patients covering more than 450 meters in the baseline six-minute walk test (6MWT) are excluded due to a possible ceiling effect.
7. Pregnancy.
8. Failure to perform the 6MWT.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age over 18 years old,
* Signed informed consent,
* Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction below 40 %,
* Stable for over 3 weeks,
* Known etiology,
* Able to do the performance test on treadmil or bicycle in order to have rehabilitation.
* No clinical avoidance reasons.
* Patient with health care registration.
* Agreement from the general practictioner and from the cardiologist that follows the patient.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Age below 18 years old,
* Unstable heart failure,
* Unable to do a performance test as indicated above,
* Patients not able to understand clinical counseling.
* Patient under tutella.
* Pregnancy.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* LVEF less than or equal to 35%
* New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II, III, or IV CHF diagnosis in the 3 months prior to study entry, with a minimum of 6 weeks of treatment
* Must be on optimal heart failure therapy according to American Heart Association (AHA), American College of Cardiology (ACC), and Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) heart failure guidelines, including treatment with angiotensin II converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and beta-blocker therapy, or have documentation justifying why optimal therapy is not being used, including intolerance, contraindication, participant preference, or physician's judgment
* Must be on stable doses of medications (e.g., beta-blocker, ACEI, and additional medications as listed in the study guidelines) for 6 weeks prior to study entry
* Must be in stable medical condition and able to begin an exercise program, as determined by study physician

Exclusion Criteria:

* Comorbid disease, behavioral limitations, or other limitations that would interfere with exercise training, or would prevent completion of 1 year of exercise training
* Pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the year following study entry
* Major heart event or heart procedure within the 6 weeks prior to study entry
* Heart procedure or hospitalization for any reason planned in the future
* Expecting to receive a heart transplant in the 6 months following study entry
* CHF caused by significant uncorrected primary valvular disease (except mitral regurgitation secondary to left ventricular dysfunction); if valve replacement has been performed, may not participate for 12 months following the procedure
* CHF caused by congenital heart disease or obstructive cardiomyopathy
* Performance of exercise training at regular intervals (more than once per week) at a moderate to vigorous intensity at any time in the 6 weeks prior to study entry
* Exercise testing results that would prevent safe exercise training, as defined by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) guidelines, including abnormal blood pressure response, early ischemic changes, and unexpected life-threatening arrhythmia
* Use of fixed-rate pacemakers, pacemakers with inability to attain target heart rates, or automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) devices with heart rate limits set below the target heart rate for exercise training
* Use of an intracardiac device such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or a cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker in the 6 months prior to study entry (must demonstrate stability for 6 weeks post-procedure)
* Primary physician considers placement of an intracardiac device such as an ICD or a cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker probable within 6 months of study entry; will be excluded until such device has been placed and 6 weeks of stabilization have passed
* Participation in another clinical trial that may interfere with study participation, follow-up, or data collection, or that may affect cardiovascular morbidity or mortality

Answer: B