Understanding exercise difficulties in heart failure patients
Official title: Peripheral mechanisms of exercise intolerance in HFpEF
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11124155 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why people with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) often struggle to exercise, focusing on how issues with their muscles and breathing can make physical activity feel harder, and it aims to help improve their experience during exercise.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $767,385 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL175086-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124155 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with heart failure who do not have preserved ejection fraction or those with other unrelated cardiovascular conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the reasons behind exercise intolerance in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). It focuses on how abnormalities in peripheral systems, particularly in muscle feedback mechanisms, affect blood flow and breathing during physical activity. By examining the interactions between locomotor and inspiratory muscles, the study aims to identify the underlying causes of exertional symptoms such as breathlessness. The methodology includes testing muscle responses and blood flow during exercise to better understand these mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments and management strategies for patients suffering from exercise intolerance due to heart failure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that understanding peripheral mechanisms in heart failure can lead to significant insights, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable results.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Joshua R. — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Smith, Joshua R.
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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.