Improving Physical Abilities for Older Adults with Acute Heart Failure
Physical Rehabilitation for Older Patients with Acute HFpEF-The REHAB-HFpEF Trial
This research explores whether a special exercise program can help older adults who have been hospitalized for a specific type of heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124811 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Older adults hospitalized with acute heart failure, especially a type called HFpEF, often face significant physical weakness, reduced quality of life, and frequent rehospitalizations. This program offers an early, personalized, and progressive physical rehabilitation plan designed to help patients regain strength and improve their daily activities. The goal is to help patients feel better and reduce the need for future hospital visits after a heart failure hospitalization. This approach builds on promising results from a previous phase of this work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults who have recently been hospitalized for acute heart failure, especially those diagnosed with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
Not a fit: Patients who are not older adults or do not have acute heart failure, particularly HFpEF, would likely not benefit from this specific rehabilitation approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this rehabilitation program could significantly improve physical function, quality of life, and reduce hospital readmissions for older adults with acute heart failure, particularly those with HFpEF.
How similar studies have performed: A previous Phase 2 trial (REHAB-HF) using a similar rehabilitation approach showed significant improvements in physical function for older patients with acute heart failure.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kitzman, Dalane W — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kitzman, Dalane W
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.