Clinical trial No longer in our active list Observational Ages 40 to 85

Understanding physical activity and heart function in healthy individuals and those with heart failure

Official title: Physical Activity, Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Energetics in Healthy Subjects and HFpEF Patients

Run by Johns Hopkins University · NCT04998877 · Data updated 2026-05-14

This study is no longer in our active list. It may have stopped recruiting or finished. The details below are as of 2026-05-14 and are kept for reference. Check ClinicalTrials.gov for its current status, or see similar studies below.

This study looks at how physical activity affects heart function in both healthy people and those with heart failure to better understand their differences.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Ages40 Years to 85 Years
SexAll
Enrollment60 (estimated)
SponsorJohns Hopkins University
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Baltimore, Maryland)
Trial IDNCT04998877 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates include men and women aged 40 to 85, with some participants having a clinical diagnosis of heart failure and others being healthy individuals without significant heart or vascular disease.

Probably not a fit

Patients with a history of diabetes mellitus or significant heart or vascular disease may not benefit from this study.

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

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to explore the relationship between data collected from wearable devices and clinical measurements in individuals with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) compared to healthy participants. Participants will undergo a series of assessments including physical exams, EKGs, laboratory tests, and MRI scans, along with wearing activity monitors for up to 14 days. The study does not involve any interventions or randomization, focusing instead on gathering comprehensive data to enhance understanding of heart function and physical activity levels.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide valuable insights into the management and treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in using wearable devices to monitor health metrics, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable data in understanding heart failure.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

All Participants:

* Women and men between the ages of 40 and 85 years, inclusive, at the Screening visit.
* Women of childbearing potential require a negative pregnancy test.
* Participants who are willing and able to comply with all scheduled visits, laboratory tests, lifestyle considerations, and other study procedures.
* Capable of giving signed informed consent, which includes willingness to be compliant with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent document and in this protocol.

Healthy Participants Only :

* Healthy participants with no history of diabetes mellitus, or significant heart or vascular disease, including a history of heart failure, myocardial infarction, revascularization or positive exercise tolerance test for ischemia (if previously performed).
* BMI of 30.0 - 50.0 kg/m2, inclusive

Heart Failure Participants Only:

* Previous clinical diagnosis of heart failure with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II-IV symptoms at screening visit and present for at least 1 month.
* Symptom(s) of HF requiring treatment with diuretic(s) for at least 30 days prior to screening
* Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) \>=50% by echocardiography, MRI, CT or x-ray or nuclear ventriculography at screening visit or within prior 12 months.
* Patients with at least 1 of the following:
* HF hospitalization (defined as HF listed as the major reason for hospitalization and treatment with diuretics) or outpatient diuresis visit within 24 months prior to screening visit OR
* evidence of structural cardiac changes or elevated biomarkers. The structural changes are defined by at least 1 of the following echocardiography findings (any local measurement made during the screening epoch or within the 6 months prior to screening visit):
* Left Atrium (LA) enlargement defined by at least 1 of the following: LA width (diameter) ≥3.8 cm or LA length ≥5.0 cm or LA area ≥20 cm2 or LA volume ≥55 ml or LA volume index ≥29 ml/m2 ,
* Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) defined by septal thickness or posterior wall thickness ≥1.1 cm.
* The biomarker changes are defined as N terminal (NT)-proBNP \>200 pg/ml for patients not in atrial fibrillation (AF) or \>600 pg/ml for patients in AF on screening.
* Stable cardiovascular medical therapy for at least 30 days, defined as no addition or removal or major (\>100%) dose change of prescribed medications for the treatment of cardiovascular disease such as, but not limited to: Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) antagonists, beta-blockers, or calcium channel blockers for hypertension.
* At Visit 1 (Screen 1), BMI of 30.0 - 50.0 kg/m2, inclusive.

Exclusion Criteria:

All participants

Participants are excluded from the study if any of the following criteria apply:

* Age \< 40 years or \> 85 years
* A history of myocardial infarction, stroke, or transient ischemic attack, within 6 months of Screen 1 (Visit 1);
* Any malignancy not considered cured (except basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin); a subject is considered cured if there has been no evidence of cancer recurrence in the previous 5 years.
* Participants with any contraindication to MRI scanning or an anatomical or pathological abnormality that would either preclude or tend to confound the analysis of study data, including the following:
* History of severe claustrophobia impacting ability to perform MRI during the study
* Implanted metallic objects contraindicated in MRI such as (pre-existing cardiac pacemakers, cerebral clips) or indwelling metallic projectiles;
* Participants unable to fit within MRI scanner or follow instructions.
* Fasting serum triglycerides ≥500 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) on current medications
* Fasting LDL-C ≥190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/L) on current medications

Prior/Concomitant Therapy:

* Use of prior/concomitant weight loss pharmacotherapy or weight loss surgery within the prior six months.

Healthy \[Non-HFpEF\] Participants Only:

In addition, Healthy Participants presenting with any of the following will not be included in the study:

* Screening supine 12 lead ECG demonstrating evidence of prior infarction or ischemia, significant arrhythmia or clinically significant conduction abnormalities.
* Uncontrolled hypertension, or those participants requiring greater than 2 blood pressure lowering medications.
* Screening Fasting glucose level of ≥126 mg/dL.
* History of diabetes mellitus
* Significant heart or vascular disease, including a history of heart failure, myocardial infarction, revascularization or positive exercise tolerance test for ischemia (if previously performed).
* Other medical or psychiatric condition that may increase the risk of study participation or, in the investigator's judgment, make the participant inappropriate for the study.

Heart Failure Participants Only:

* History of infiltrative cardiomyopathy or constrictive pericarditis, cor pulmonale, or significant pulmonary disease.
* Significant valvular abnormalities.
* History of clinical coronary artery disease (CAD) or significant epicardial coronary disease (\>50% stenosis) in major coronary artery by x-ray or CT angiography unless (a) the patient underwent prior successful revascularization with percutaneous coronary angioplasty within the prior three years.
* Any condition other than HF which could limit the ability to perform a six minute walk test (6MWT) or CPET test (e.g., critical peripheral vascular disease, significant orthopedic or neurological conditions),
* Any diseases other than HF which are likely to significantly alter the patient's global perception of status or quality of life over a period of 6 months.
* Participants who have previously had a transplanted kidney, liver, or heart.
* At Screening, persistent severe, uncontrolled hypertension; for example: seated systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥180 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥105 mm Hg after ≥5 minute of seated rest, with a single repeat permitted to assess eligibility, if needed.
* At Screening, participants with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≤30 mL/min/1.73m2 using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation, and serum creatinine (SCr).
* Patients taking combined glucagon-like peptide and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GLP-1/GIP) receptor agonists at the time of the screening study visit.

Where it's running

  • Johns Hopkins Hosptial
    Baltimore, Maryland, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Robert G Weiss, MD — Johns Hopkins University
  • Study coordinator: Tricia Steinberg, RN, MSN
  • Email: asteinb3@jhu.edu
  • Phone: 443-287-3469

Similar studies

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

  • Remote rehabilitation for HFpEF patients using telerehabilitation

    A home-based telerehabilitation program is being tested to see if it is safe and helpful for people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

    Recruiting at 3 sites American Heart of Poland · Chrzanów and 2 other locations · NCT07918209

  • EDG-15400 in adults with HFpEF: a phase 2 study

    This phase 2 study tests different doses of EDG-15400 against placebo in adults with HFpEF to see if it is safe and tolerable.

    Recruiting at 4 sites Phase 2 Edgewise Therapeutics, Inc. · Birmingham, Alabama and 27 other locations · NCT07795814

  • Incretin therapy with tirzepatide for obesity-related HFpEF

    A 15-month study will test whether tirzepatide helps people with obesity and HFpEF by reducing plasma volume.

    Recruiting Phase 4 Columbia University · New York, New York · NCT07554638

  • Boosted exercise with group coaching for HFpEF

    This trial tests a blended, guided exercise program with group coaching and remote monitoring to see if it helps older adults with HFpEF improve activity and health at a lower cost.

    Recruiting Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Winston-Salem, North Carolina · NCT07413198

  • Exercise cardiac MRI for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

    This study will try low-field exercise cardiac MRI to see if it can diagnose, describe, and predict risk in people with HFpEF compared with those who have non-cardiac breathlessness and healthy volunteers.

    Recruiting Mayo Clinic · Rochester, Minnesota · NCT07401771

  • HRS-1893 for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

    This trial will test whether HRS-1893 is safe and tolerable in adults aged 40 and older who have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

    Recruiting Phase 2 Shandong Suncadia Medicine Co., Ltd. · Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · NCT07269717

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.
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.