AzTrials
AzTrials

Ischemic Heart DiseaseEMPIRENCT03217227

Evaluating Myocardial Ischemia in Chest Pain Using Exercise CMR

An observational study of Ischemic Heart Disease and Coronary Artery Disease, run by National Heart Centre Singapore at 2 sites in Singapore.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is a condition of recurring chest pain or discomfort that occurs when a part of the heart is not receiving sufficient blood flow. It is a major public health concern internationally and in Singapore, the leading cause of death from cardiovascular disease. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 21 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Exercise Bike, Cardiac Catheterization and Retinal Photography (Optional)
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
How many people
300 participants
Where
2 sitesSingapore
Study dates
1 May 2017to 1 Mar 2025
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 21 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: The major source of recruitment for healthy volunteers will be from an existing database of healthy volunteers who have participated in the biobank program and have indicated interest in future studies. Other sources include co-workers of the department who volunteer and indicate on the Informed Consent Document that their participation was entirely voluntary and not coerced. Study Team members are ineligible. The major source of recruitment for patients with stable angina will be from the imaging and admission databases of the National Heart Centre Singapore. Patients are also referred by their attending healthcare professionals. The primary physicians of the patients identified will be notified and recruitment will only proceed if the primary physician is agreeable.

Who may be able to join

  • Healthy Volunteers:
  • 21 years and above
  • Normal physical examination
  • No known significant medical history
  • Able to give informed consent
  • Patients:
Show all 14Show fewer
  • 21 years and above
  • Stable angina or angina-equivalent
  • Has at least one of the following risk factors:
  • Smoking
  • Diabetes (fasting glucose level > 140 mg/dL)
  • Hyperlipidemia (total cholesterol level > 250 mg/dL)
  • Abnormal ECG
  • Hypertension

Who cannot join

  • Healthy Volunteers:
  • Contraindications to CMR implantable devices, cerebral aneurysm clips, cochlear implants
  • Claustrophobia
  • Women who are pregnant
  • Inability to comply with study protocol
  • Not able to exercise
Show all 17Show fewer
  • Patients:
  • Unstable cardiac conditions that are deemed by primary investigator to be unsuitable for this study
  • Prior coronary revascularization or percutaneous coronary intervention
  • Pulmonary disease
  • Anemia
  • Asthma
  • Hyperthermia
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Sympathomimetic toxicity
  • Polycythemia
  • Severely uncontrolled hypertension despite being on at least 3 anti-hypertensive medications

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

Thu Thao Le, PhD contact

67042241

le.thu.thao@nhcs.com.sg

Sheryl Lieo, B Sc. contact

67042305

sheryl.lieo.w.x@nhcs.com.sg

Singapore2 sites, 2 recruiting
  • National Heart Centre Singapore

    Singapore, 169609

    Le Thu Thao, PhD, 6704 2241, le.thu.thao@nhcs.com.sg

    Sheryl Lieo, BSc, 6704 2305, sheryl.lieo.w.x@nhcs.com.sg

    Recruiting
  • National Heart Centre Singapore

    Singapore

    Thu Thao Le, PhD, 67042241, le.thu.thao@nhcs.com.sg

    Recruiting

Other trials in Singapore

About this study

Official title: Evaluating Myocardial Ischemia in Chest Pain Using Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) Imaging Exercise Bike

Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is a condition of recurring chest pain or discomfort that occurs when a part of the heart is not receiving sufficient blood flow. It is a major public health concern internationally and in Singapore, the leading cause of death from cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has the ability to assess heart structures, scarring or lack of blood supply to the heart muscle with great accuracy and without any radiation involved. A CMR-compatible cycle ergometer can offer a safe and low cost stress equipment to assess heart function and motion abnormalities, and restrictions of the blood supply to the heart tissues due to partial or complete blockages of the blood vessels.

This study aims

  1. to develop an exercise-CMR stress protocol by testing its feasibility and robustness in assessing changes in cardiac volumes and function due to physical exertion in healthy individuals and
  2. to assess the accuracy of the multiparametric stress-CMR as a diagnostic tool for ischemic-causing coronary artery disease (CAD) with coronary fractional flow reserve (FFR) as a reference.
  3. to measure the overall economic impact of ischaemic heart disease by estimating the direct and indirect medical costs for each participant. The current sample costs will be extrapolated to estimate the annual costs of treating and managing ischaemic heart disease in the local population.
  4. to evaluate the effects of coronary microvascular dysfunction on coronary flow and regulation, physiological response and cardiac sympathetic signaling in patients with chest pain.
Read the detailed description

Suspected ischemic heart disease (IHD) or coronary artery disease (CAD) is commonly diagnosed by stress testing where patients undergo exercise tests in order to make their hearts work hard and beat fast to require more blood and oxygen. Pharmacological-induced stress is employed in the case where the patient is unable to exercise. Since plaque-narrowed arteries cannot supply enough oxygen-rich blood to meet the heart's needs, the stress test can show signs and symptoms of IHD. Some of the symptoms include abnormal changes in the heart rate or blood pressure, shortness of breath, chest pain, or abnormal changes in the heart's rhythm and electrical activity.

As part of the stress tests, images of the heart are taken while the patient is exercising and while the patient is at rest. The imaging stress tests will show how well the blood flows in and out of the heart. An example would be a stress echocardiogram where an ultrasound is performed on the chest to produce video images of the heart to. IHD is detected through development of new regional wall motion abnormalities or worsening of preexisting regional wall motions. The patient will be required to exercise on a treadmill before lying on the examination bed for the ultrasound scan. This however, would require the patient to move from the treadmill to the bed, which would result in some time delay.

Another diagnostic test commonly used to diagnose IHD would be a nuclear scan known as myocardial perfusion imaging where a radioactive isotope acting as a tracer is injected into the bloodstream. During exercise, the tracer is monitored while it flows through the heart and lungs to allow detection for any blood-flow problems. However, this test would involve ionizing radiation due to the radioactive isotopic tracer used.

A detailed test to view blood flow through the heart, would be through a cardiac catheterization or an angiogram where a thin and flexible tube known as a catheter is threaded through an artery, usually in the leg, to the heart arteries. An invisible dye is injected through the catheter and special x-rays will be taken while the dye flows through the coronary arteries, allowing the doctor to study the blood flow through the heart and blood vessels. Due to the nature of the catheterization with the insertion of the tube, it makes the procedure invasive and hence involving risks although they are rare.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is able to accurately and non-radiatively assess the heart structure, any scarring or lack of blood supply to the heart muscle. A CMR-compatible cycle ergometer offers a one-stop diagnostic test that is non-radiative and non-invasive. Hence, our investigators aim to develop a protocol that does not require any invasive procedure by assessing its accuracy and develop reference ranges in healthy individuals.

Being tested
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Exercise Bike, Cardiac Catheterization, Retinal Photography (Optional), I123 MIBG Scintigraphy (Optional)
Medical subject headings
Myocardial Ischemia, Coronary Artery Disease, Cardiovascular Diseases, Coronary Disease

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Exercise BikeOther

    Also called Bike MRI, CMR stress protocol

    A rest scan is performed and a gadolinium contrast may be administered during the scan (depending on the kidney function). After the rest scan is completed, images of the subject's heart during exercise via cycling in the supine position, will be scanned.

  • Cardiac CatheterizationProcedure or surgery

    Also called Coronary Angiogram, Fractional Flow Resistance Measurement (FFR), Index of Microvascular Resistance Measurement (IMR), Coronary Pressure Measurement

    It is a procedure to diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases by inserting a long and thin tube known as a catheter into the artery or vein in the neck, groin or arm and threaded through the blood vessels to the heart.

    A coronary angiogram is also performed during the procedure where an invisible contrast dye (only visible in the X-rays) is injected through the catheter and X-ray images scanned will show the flow of the dye through the heart arteries to determine any blockages in the arteries.

    In the case where there is severe narrowings, fractional flow reserve (FFR) may be performed to measure the pressure in the coronary arteries.

    If there is no significant narrowing lesions, the interventionist may perform additional flow resistance measurements of the small vessels to further investigate the cause of angina

  • Retinal Photography (Optional)Other

    The test studies the structure and function of the eye vessels. It involves using eye drops to dilate the pupils, allowing the retinal photographer to have a better view of the back of the eye.

  • I123 MIBG Scintigraphy (Optional)Diagnostic test

    Also called Iodine-123-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy

    The test studies the cardiac sympathetic signalling that may help to identify patients with high risks of adverse events. The scan consists of 2 acquisitions of images 3-4 hours apart.

    For this study, only patients without clinically significant lesions (diagnosed via the cardiac catetherisation and have normal FFR results) will undergo this test.

Study groups in NCT03217227
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Healthy VolunteerHealthy Volunteers will undergo the following study procedures: 1. Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Exercise Bike 2. Blood Sampling 3. Activity and Lifestyle Questionnaires 4. Fat Mass Measurement
Receives: Other: Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Exercise Bike
Patients with Stable AnginaPatients will undergo the following study procedures: 1. Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Exercise Bike 2. Blood Sampling 3. Cardiac Catheterization 4. Activity, Lifestyle and Medication Compliance Questionnaires 5. Fat Mass Measurement 6. Retinal Photography (Optional) 7. I123 MIBG scan (Optional)
Receives: Other: Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Exercise Bike; Procedure: Cardiac Catheterization; Other: Retinal Photography (Optional); Diagnostic Test: I123 MIBG Scintigraphy (Optional)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. First occurrence of cardiovascular event

    The outcomes are obtained via hospital records or phone follow-ups

    Measured: One year

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 Jul 2017
  2. Study start1 May 2017
  3. Primary completion1 Mar 2025 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Mar 2025 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
300 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03217227
Sponsor's protocol ID
2017/2123
Acronym
EMPIRE
Status last verified
Apr 2023
First submitted
11 Jul 2017
Last updated
12 Apr 2023
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Le TT, Ang BWY, Bryant JA, Chin CY, Yeo KK, Wong PEH, Ho KW, Tan JWC, Lee PT, Chin CWL, Cook SA. Multiparametric exercise stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease: the EMPIRE trial. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. 2021 Mar 4;23(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s12968-021-00705-8.

    PubMed 33658056

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Ischemic Heart Disease and Coronary Artery Disease, run by National Heart Centre Singapore at 2 sites in Singapore.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 14 inclusion and 17 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Apr 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in Singapore. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Thu Thao Le, PhD (67042241, le.thu.thao@nhcs.com.sg), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

First occurrence of cardiovascular event (time frame: One year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03217227, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 Apr 2023.

Free account

Keep searching with a free account

You’ve used your 3 free searches for this session. Log in or create a free AzTrials account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in