NIH-funded research R21 grant

Exploring how alcohol use affects older adults with heart failure

Official title: Understanding alcohol use and alcohol-related care among older adults with heart failure

Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11165357 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how drinking alcohol affects older adults with heart failure, to see if it makes their symptoms worse and makes it harder for them to take care of themselves, with the goal of finding better ways to support them.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project startAugust 16, 2024
Project endJuly 31, 2025
Funding year2023
Award (this year)$287,138
NIH project number7R21AA031048-02
Project IDNIH-11165357 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are older adults diagnosed with heart failure who also consume alcohol.

Less likely to help

Patients without heart failure or those who do not consume alcohol may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of alcohol use and misuse on older adults who have heart failure. It aims to understand how alcohol consumption may worsen heart failure symptoms and hinder self-management efforts. By employing advanced statistical methods and machine learning, the study will analyze the relationship between alcohol use and heart failure outcomes, as well as assess the type of alcohol-related care these patients currently receive. The findings could lead to improved care strategies for this vulnerable population.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better management strategies for older adults with heart failure, potentially improving their health outcomes and quality of life.

How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research specifically addressing alcohol use in older adults with heart failure, similar studies have shown that addressing alcohol misuse can improve health outcomes in other populations.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Illinois at Chicago
    Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Phillips, Aryn — University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Study coordinator: Phillips, Aryn

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.