Home › Trials › NCT07493915
Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Observational Ages 18 and up

Personalized cardiac rehab for veterans with HFpEF

Official title: Precision Rehabilitation for Veterans With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)

Run by Columbia VA Health Care System · NCT07493915 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project will try a supervised 12-week monitored exercise program during cardiac rehabilitation to see if it improves fitness and heart function in veterans with HFpEF.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment4 (estimated)
SponsorColumbia VA Health Care System
Federal
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations1 site (Columbia, South Carolina)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJune 1, 2023
Main results expectedApril 9, 2026
Study endsOctober 9, 2026
Registry record updatedMarch 25, 2026
Trial IDNCT07493915 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are veterans with NYHA class II or III symptoms, EF ≥50%, left ventricular hypertrophy, evidence of diastolic dysfunction, a history of hypertension, and medical clearance plus ability to participate in supervised exercise.

Probably not a fit

Patients with EF <50%, absence of LVH, significant LV dilation, segmental wall motion abnormalities, significant valvular or non-coronary heart disease, active non-cardiac conditions affecting the heart, or who cannot safely exercise are unlikely to benefit from this program.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This observational feasibility project will enroll a small number of veterans to test whether a monitored, moderate continuous training program delivered three times weekly for 12 weeks can be carried out safely and produces measurable changes in cardiorespiratory fitness. Participants will undergo baseline testing including a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), heart imaging, and two small blood draws, then complete supervised exercise sessions at the VA facility while investigators track VO2Peak, symptoms, quality of life, and cardiac structure and function. The initial enrollment of four patients is intended to refine the protocol, confirm the facility can support a larger trial, and check for any clear harms or promising signals. The study also aims to identify baseline features that predict who is most likely to respond to exercise.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could demonstrate that supervised moderate exercise increases cardiorespiratory fitness, reduces symptoms, and improves quality of life for veterans with HFpEF, informing larger trials and VA care programs.

How similar studies have gone: Small prior studies have suggested supervised exercise can improve VO2Peak in some HFpEF patients, but results have been mixed and no large definitive trial has yet confirmed a consistent benefit.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* New York Heart Association Class II or III HF symptoms
* History of hypertension
* EF≥50%
* LVH confirmed by echocardiography, Cardiac CT, or Cardiac MR
* Diastolic dysfunction which must include ≥2 of the following:

  1. Average E/e'\>14
  2. Septal e'\<7 cm/s or Lateral e' \<10 cm/s
  3. TR velocity\> 2.8 m/s
  4. LA computed volume index \>34 mL/M2
  5. PCWP or LVEDP\>15
* Ability to participate in an exercise program as determined by a research, cardiology, or primary care provider

Exclusion Criteria:

* Ejection Fraction \< 50%
* Absence of LVH
* LV Dilation (LV end diastolic volume indexed to BSA \> 75 ml/m2)
* Any Segmental wall motion abnormality
* Acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
* Significant valvular or other non-coronary heart disease
* Any non-cardiac disease or condition that could influence myocardial function (e.g., collagen-vascular disease, history of cardiotoxic cancer chemotherapy, amyloid)
* Anemia defined as Hgb \< 11.0 g/dl in males, 10 g/dl in females
* Current accelerating angina, unstable angina, angina at rest, or NSTEMI within 3 months
* Chronic pulmonary disease requiring home oxygen or steroid therapy
* Significant non-CV organ disease: Chronic hepatic or renal disease (eGFR \< 25 mL/min/1.73m2)
* Inability to provide informed consent
* Inability to perform exercise

Where it's running

  • Columbia VA Health Care System
    Columbia, South Carolina, United States     Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Kurt Barringhaus, MD, FACC, FSCAI — William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center
  • Study coordinator: Kurt Barringhaus, MD, FACC, FSCAI
  • Email: kurt.barringhaus@va.gov
  • Phone: 803-776-4000

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ Find more trials like this →
Browse more
Heart Failure 1020Preserved Ejection Fraction 4
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.