Active clinical trials for "Heart Failure"

Heart failure is the most costly diagnosis in the Medicare population. Clinical depression is strikingly common in heart failure patients, and not only diminishes their quality of life, but also is associated with a markedly increased risk of hospitalization or death. This study is designed to further our understanding of the behavioral and biological effects of depression in patients with heart failure, so that appropriate treatments can be developed.

The objective of this study is to confirm the safety and efficacy of the new Sentus OTW QP LV lead and Iperia ICD family. The study focuses on the safety and efficacy of the QP device system.

Study Purpose and Rationale The purpose of this study is to evaluate the lung Doppler signals changes during cardiac resynchronization procedure. As the LDS represent the various mechanical events of cardiac origin it is assumed that they may reflect the relative timing between contraction of the ventricles and atria and thus serve for effective synchronization of these activities. Aim of the study: The aim of the study is to assess whether the changes in Lung Doppler Signal (LDS) waves' characteristics will mimic the changes in echocardiographic parameters designed to assess diastolic inflow and systolic flow in patients undergoing Echo-based CRT optimization.

Objective: The Ultrasonic Cardiac Output Monitor (USCOM) is a non-invasive, quantitative method for measuring and monitoring cardiovascular haemodynamic parameters in patients. The aims of this study are: To investigate whether USCOM-derived haemodynamic parameters such as Cardiac output (CO), inotropy and oxygen delivery (DO2) have a role in the diagnosis of patients with a compensated heart failure syndrome (cHFS) or acute decompensated heart failure syndrome (adHFS) To investigate whether USCOM-derived haemodynamic parameters such as CO, inotropy and DO2 correlate with heart failure staging, especially New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and American Heart Association (AHA) stage. To investigate whether USCOM-derived haemodynamic parameters such as velocity time interval (vti), stroke volume (SV), CO, SV index (SVI), CO index (CI), inotropy and DO2 correlate with ejection fraction. To investigate whether USCOM-derived haemodynamic variables may be used as prognostic indicators of 30-day, 6-month and 1-year Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE). To evaluate the agreement between hemodynamic measurements obtained using the Ultrasonic Cardiac Output Monitor (USCOM®; USCOM Ltd., Sydney, Australia), and reference standards as determined by 2 Dimensional echocardiography (2D-echo) measurements in groups of haemodynamically stable and unstable adult patients. Design: This prospective observational cohort study will be conducted in the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong. Setting and Subjects: Patients will be screened and recruited from adult patients either scheduled for elective 2D-echo at a cardiology clinic at the Prince of Wales Hospital, or attending the emergency department at the Prince of Wales Hospital. Interventions: Haemodynamic measurements made using the USCOM and 2D-echo will be compared. In order to assess inter-observer variability, a second, blinded operator will repeated 15% of scans.

The prospective study aims: To determine the role and mechanism of biomarkers for prediction of response to CRT To determine the role of biomarkers and their effect on left ventricular remodeling in patients undergoing CRT.

This study aims to investigate the effect of a pacemaker device used in heart failure patients which is called Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT). Specifically the investigators aim to investigate if the CRT pacemaker has an effect on breathing stability in these patients and particularly breathing stability at night. Our theory is that the CRT pacemaker may improve the stability of breathing in patients with heart failure.

The purpose of this research is to see if investigators can detect truncated mRNA splice variants of the cardiac voltage-gated sodium (Na+) channel gene, SCN5A, in patients with a weak heart (Heart Failure) with or without an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and compare them to patients with a normal heart. Hypothesis: Patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction have increased abundances truncated mRNA splice variants of the SCN5A gene, which portends to sodium channel dysfunction and an increased risk for sudden cardiac death. Patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices (ICDs) who have experienced shock therapy have increased abundances of truncated mRNA splice variants of the SCN5A gene compared to similar congestive heart failure patients who have not experienced shock therapy.

The objective of this study is to evaluate whether a quarterly feedback, education and performance improvement site-based intervention has a greater impact on quality performance and adherence to evidenced-based guidelines than existing on-demand feedback. This study will use a randomized design to compare changes in quality performance and adherence to selected measures among hospitals using existing on-demand reports and general quality improvement (QI) efforts versus those receiving intensive, targeted QI feedback via reports, teleconferences, webinars, and specialized tool kits.

EVITA should function as an idea supplier and should coordinate possible future studies. Other important tasks of the register are: (i) the establishment of recommendations for an optimal medicinal therapy (OMT) as well as for ICD- and CRT-treatment; (ii) the establishment of quality assurance measures, including monitoring of new therapy.

The overall objective of the proposed pilot study is to begin evaluation of two methods for promoting adherence to guidelines for beta-blocker therapy in heart failure. The design includes site level baseline measurement, feedback, remeasurement after six months, and randomized (by site) comparison samples. The setting is VA sites, with intervention directed at the pharmacy.