View clinical trials related to Congestive Heart Failure.
Filter by:This is a randomized controlled trial of a CPR video decision aid in patients with advanced congestive heart failure (CHF).
Several studies have shown that inflammation and matrix degradation have pathogenic effects on the myocardium by influencing heart contractility, inducing hypertrophy, degrading the matrix, or enhancing fibrosis, thus contributing to the continuous myocardial remodeling process. The sedative and antinausea drug thalidomide has been shown to have both anti-inflammatory and antioncogenic properties that could be of benefit in case of congestive heart failure (CHF). Previous, small investigations have shown an improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction and a favorable cardiac remodeling during thalidomide therapy.
The purpose of this study is to determine if treatment with vitamin D3 of 10,000 International Units (IU) daily in vitamin D deficient patients for 6 months will improve B type natriuretic peptide (BNP), a marker of heart function, compared to placebo. The investigators also aim to determine if vitamin D helps cardiopulmonary function as evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX), laboratory values, strength, and quality of life in patients with stable congestive heart failure (Class II or III).
Hospital readmissions are common, costly, and potentially preventable. They are also potentially responsive to health system interventions. However, it is uncertain which components of care transition interventions are efficacious, for which populations, and at what cost. This randomized controlled study is part of a larger project that will evaluate a three-tiered quality improvement (QI) intervention intended to reduce hospital readmissions within 30 days post-discharge from an urban safety net hospital that serves a racially and linguistically diverse population (the randomized controlled study evaluates Tier 3). Few studies have evaluated care transition interventions to reduce readmissions among low-income, diverse patient populations, and the accumulated evidence on the effects of these multi-faceted interventions on readmission rates has been inconclusive. This project will take advantage of a unique sequence of three QI innovations to reduce hospital readmissions implemented beginning in 2007 in an integrated safety net health care system. The "discharge-transfer" tiers are as follows: 1) Tier 1 includes a comprehensive, individualized home care plan (HCP) reviewed by the medical service floor nurse with the patient prior to discharge; 2) Tier 2 adds the electronic transmission of the HCP to the patient's primary care medical home where, on the business day following discharge, a Registered Nurse makes an outreach telephone call to the discharged patient to confirm comprehension of the HCP and to address medical questions or needs; 3) Tier 3 further adds a community health worker, the Patient Navigator, to participate in bedside discussions to develop rapport and learn about patients' home situations, weekly outreach calls to assess patients' needs and to facilitate communication between the patient and the primary care team, and reminder calls to patients prior to all medical appointments to eliminate barriers to outpatient follow-up. The Aim of the study being registered is to evaluate the effects of an ongoing randomized natural experiment on readmissions, health care use, adherence to medication instructions, and preparedness for discharge. This natural experiment features random assignment to one of two QI interventions, Tier 2 or Tier 3, and exclusively targets patients at high risk for readmission, those with one or more of the following risk factors for readmission: discharge diagnosis of congestive heart failure or COPD; length of stay > 3 days; age > 60; or previous hospitalization within the past six months. The investigators hypothesize that the Patient Navigator intervention (Tier 3) compared to usual care (Tier 2) will increase the rates of 30-day post-discharge PCP visits; reduce 30-day hospital readmission rates; and reduce the total number of days in hospital in the 180 days following the index admission for high risk patients. The investigators further expect that the PN intervention will improve patient adherence to medication instructions in the HCP and reduce the probability of reported problems with post-discharge care.
It is recognized that endothelial dysfunction is a major factor contributing to the atherogenic process. Abnormal function of the endothelium is detectable prior to obvious intimal lesions in patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction is a systemic disorder and a key variable in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its complications. Measurement of peripheral vasodilator response with fingertip peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) technology (EndoPAT; Itamar Medical, Caesarea, Israel) is emerging as a useful method for assessing vascular function. EndoPAT may be a potential valid test increasing the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity for detection of subjects to chest pain unit (CPU) with chest pain but no obvious coronary artery disease (CAD). This is a relatively fast non-invasive bedside test, relatively low-cost and has no side effects. Therefore, the primary objective of the study is to test the hypothesis that abnormal endothelial function as assessed by EndoPAT testing will increase the prediction of the short (in-hospital) and long-term (1-year) outcome of patients presenting to the chest pain unit.
Use of the EnSite NavX system to map the coronary vasculature during CRT implant
Treatment of ischemic heart failure.
The reduction in effort tolerance as result of a decreased efficiency in ventilation is common both in patients affected by COPD (McKenzie) and chronic heart failure (CHF) (Ribeiro, Frankenstein). One of the most common cause is the reduced respiratory muscle strength and endurance. Some studies have evaluated the effect of a specific training on the muscular strength both in pulmonary (Battaglia, Powell) and cardiac patients (Winkelmann, Chiappa). Moreover, only few studies investigated a specific training for such patients (Koppers, Sherer) because of the complicated equipment needed to prevent hypocapnia. Up to date, portable and economic systems for isocapnic hyperpnea have been developed for respiratory muscle training. Primary aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the respiratory muscle training -by the technique of the isocapnic hyperpnea- on the effort tolerance and endurance in patients with COPD and CHF Secondary aims were: A.to quantify the number of patients with deficit of respiratory muscles endurance and B.to verify different response of training between COPD and CHF patients
This study is being done to determine the effects of subcutaneous (under the skin) injection of human B-type natriuretic factor (BNP), Natrecor (nesiritide), a hormone produced by the heart, in combination with Tadalafil on: - The pumping function of the heart - Kidney function - Hormonal function (levels of different hormones in your blood) in persons with lower pumping function of their heart.
The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that a comprehensive post-discharge disease management system is more effective in reducing the readmission rate for heart failure patients compared to standard care.