Using heart-rate responses during arm-movement tests to detect irreversible frailty in older adults with severe heart disease
Official title: Heart Rate Dynamics in Response to Upper-Extremity Function Test to Identify Irreversible Frailty After Invasive Therapy in Older Adults with Advanced Heart Disease
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11260125 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses heart-rate changes during a quick arm-movement test to find older adults with severe heart disease who may not tolerate invasive treatments like valve replacement.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 15, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $312,900 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG076774-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11260125 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults age 65 and older with advanced heart disease, especially aortic stenosis, who are being considered for invasive therapies such as TAVR.
✕Less likely to help
People under 65, those without advanced heart disease, or those not being considered for invasive cardiac procedures are unlikely to benefit from this specific testing approach.
What this research studies
You would perform a short, simple upper-arm function test while we record your heart rate with wearable sensors and motion monitors. The team combines how your arm moves and how your heart responds to create a quick, objective frailty score tailored to people with heart disease who face invasive procedures. The focus is on older adults with aortic stenosis being considered for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to reduce variability and make results more relevant. Testing is designed to be brief and usable during routine cardiology visits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors decide who will benefit from invasive heart procedures and who might be better served by less aggressive or preparatory care.
How similar studies have gone: Related sensor-based frailty work has shown promise, but applying heart-rate dynamics during arm tests specifically for heart-disease patients and TAVR selection is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Toosizadeh, Nima — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Toosizadeh, Nima
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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.