Leipzig Exercise Intervention in Chronic Heart Failure and Aging

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In both ageing and heart failure progressive exercise intolerance is observed. The Leipzig Exercise Intervention in Chronic heart failure and Aging (LEICA) study aims to investigate how aerobic short-term training interventions affect exercise capacity, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, biomarkers of heart failure, skeletal muscle metabolism, and endothelial function in chronis heart failure patients (CHF-patients) and healthy subjects (HS) in two different age strata: Above 65 years and below 55 years. Aim of the trial is therefore to compare the effects of aerobic exercise training in young and old healthy subjects as well as in young and old heart failure patients. To our knowledge this study is the first to prospectively investigate age differences of training responses in both CHF patients and age-matched healthy controls. Because of the extensive clinical and molecular assessment the results of this trial will be made public in predefined substudies: LEICA-Echo LEICA-Biomarkers LEICA-Endothelium LEICA-Cardiopulmonary Exercise Function LEICA-Muscle

Detailed Description
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A total of 60 healthy subjects and 60 heart failure patients (in each group 30 <55 years, 30 >65 years) are prospectively randomized to either 4 weeks of aerobic ergometer training or control group. Before and after the intervention period maximal exercise tolerance is determined by ergospirometry, endothelial function is measured by high-resolution A-mode ultrasound, left ventricular function by echocardiography including tissue Doppler imaging, and thigh muscle mass is assessed by CT. Skeletal muscle biopsies are obtained at both time-points and are analysed for inflammatory cytokines and markers of catabolism/anabolism.

Official Title
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Age-related Functional and Molecular Effects of Short-term Aerobic Endurance Training in Patients With Stable Chronic Heart Failure and Age-matched Healthy Controls.

Conditions
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Heart Failure, Ageing

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Aerobic endurance exercise training (ergometer)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Group 1: Healthy subjects normal left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) >55% normal coronary artery disease (cardiac catheterization) Group 2: CHF patients reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) <40% stable clinical condition (NYHA II-III) Exclusion Criteria: COLD cardiac decompensation <3 months ventricular arrhythmias >Lown IVb myocardial infarction < 4 weeks valvular heart disease >II° insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus arterial hypertension orthopedic conditions prohibiting training participation

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 85 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Behavioral: Aerobic endurance exercise training (ergometer)|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Improvement in functional exercise capacity (as measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing) |  |  | 
| Echocardiography: Improvement in left ventricular diastolic function as assessed by tissue Doppler (E/E' ratio) |  |  | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Biomarkers of heart failure (including NT-proBNP) |  |  | 
| Endothelial function |  |  | 
| Activation of the catabolic ubiquitin-proteasome pathway |  |  | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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heart failure, ageing