HFpEF - Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection FractionNCT05784753
HEART Camp Connect -Promoting Exercise in Adults With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
A study testing HEART Camp and HEART Camp Connect in people with HFpEF - Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction, run by University of Nebraska at 3 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this study is to learn more about patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and exercise. Investigators want to see if meeting with a coach in person or by video conference will help these patients exercise, feel better, and change markers in their blood. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- HFpEF - Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
- What is being tested?
- HEART Camp and HEART Camp Connect
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 300 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 20 Nov 2023to Mar 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosis of heart failure with an ejection fraction greater than or equal to 50
- Echocardiogram in prior 24 months
- Stable pharmacologic therapy in the past 30 days
- Any of the following evidence to confirm HFpEF - Score< 6 on Heavy Hypertensive Atrial Fibrillation, Pulmonary Hypertension, Elder, Filling Pressure algorithm, invasive hemodynamic evidence of HFpEF(i.e., elevated pulmonary wedge pressure), or a confirmed clinical diagnosis of HFpEF
Who cannot join
- Life-limiting illness precluding study completion
- Clinical evidence of decompensated heart failure
- Unstable angina or marked shortness of breath on exertion at less than 2 metabolic equivalents
- Myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, or biventricular pacemaker in prior 6 weeks
- Orthopedic or neuromuscular disorders preventing aerobic exercise
- Cardiopulmonary exercise test results that preclude safe exercise
Show all 9Show fewer
- Unwilling/unable to complete pre-randomization procedures
- Pregnancy
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States3 sites, 3 recruiting
- Not yet recruiting
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903
Windy Alonso, PhD, RN, cqm6ys@viriginia.edu
Souad Benloukil, sb2jx@virginia.edu
- Recruiting
Henry Ford Health System
Detroit, Michigan, 49201
Steven Keteyian, PhD, sketeyi1@hfhs.org
Crystal Grimshaw, cgrimsh1@hfhs.org
- Recruiting
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska, 68198-5330
Bunny Pozehl, PhD, RN, 402-559-8342, bpozehl@unmc.edu
Tiffany Dudley, tiffany.dudley@unmc.edu
About this study
Official title: HEART (Heart Failure Exercise and Resistance Training) Camp Connect: Promoting Adherence to Exercise in Adults With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
The goal of this study is to learn more about patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and exercise. Investigators want to see if meeting with a coach in person or by video conference will help these patients exercise, feel better, and change markers in their blood. Participants will be randomly placed in one of three groups for 18 months. All groups will have access to a fitness center and be given a watch and heart rate monitor to wear during exercise. The usual care group (control group) will have access to exercise videos via the medical fitness center and will not meet with a coach. The HEART Camp group will exercise and meet with their coach in-person at the medical fitness center. The HEART Camp Connect group will have access to exercise videos via the medical fitness center and will meet with their coach via videoconferencing. All participants will take part in an exercise test and study training prior to being randomized. At four data collection time points, participants will wear an activity monitor for 7 days each, have their blood drawn, and answer questions related to heart failure and exercise. Participants will also wear a heart rate monitor when they exercise and fill out a daily exercise diary.
Read the detailed description
The overall objectives for this study are to: (a) test the efficacy of virtual and in-person exercise interventions to promote long-term adherence to exercise; (b) determine a benchmark of exercise minutes that reaches a minimal clinically important difference in heart failure related health status and drives improvements in physical function, inflammatory markers, and patient-reported outcomes; (c) identify interventional mechanisms, interim clinical events and prognostic indicators of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) that mediate adherence; (d) assess delivery method and related cost of the intervention to support translation and scalability. To meet these objectives, investigators propose a three-group, 2-2-1 randomized repeated measures experimental design with 4 data collection points [baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months to compare HEART Camp, HEART Camp Connect, and virtual enhanced usual care (EUC).
This study begins with the cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) . The CPET is used to develop an exercise prescription and ensure participant safety and readiness for exercise. Participants who have completed a CPET within 6 months of enrollment with no changes in medications will not repeat the test. Any participants who exhibit potential safety concerns during CPET (e.g. cardiac arrhythmias, balance instability) will be evaluated by a trained providers, prior to continuing in the study. Those deemed unsafe to exercise will be withdrawn. After the CPET, participants will take part in the run-in period with 3 monitored sessions in cardiac rehabilitation and study orientation. All participants will be oriented during a one-time in-person training to familiarize them with the 1) Either in-person Engage center or Engage virtual platform via the HEART Camp You Tube channel; 2) All monitoring devices (Polar watch and Polar heart rate monitor, Actigraph, rating of perceived exertion scale, and exercise diary); and 3) Private HEART Camp You Tube channel where they can view investigator-developed educational videos specific to HFpEF and virtual exercise content. Participants who do not have a smart device with internet capability or have an insufficient data plan will be given a tablet with a wireless data plan for study use.
After randomization, participants in the intervention groups (HEART Camp Connect and HEART Camp) meet with a coach for the first 12 months of the study. The HEART Camp group will meet in-person at the medical fitness center with their coach. The HEART Camp Connect group will meet virtually, over videoconference. To improve the scalability of this intervention, investigators will taper coaching sessions according to the following schedule: Months 1-3 weekly, 1-on-1 coaching for 30 minutes; Months 4-12 1-on-1 coaching is reduced to 15 minute sessions every other week. On alternate weeks, participants will attend a 1-hour group-based exercise training and coaching. During these sessions, the coach will meet with 4-6 participants at once. One half of the class will be an exercise training session and the other half will be a question/answer session for participants to talk to the coach and each other about strategies for exercise. After 12 months, coaching (both intervention groups) and motivational messages (HEART Camp Connect only) will stop and participants will be expected to self-regulate exercise in months 13-18.
Participants will be asked to build up to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly. During exercise sessions, participants will be asked to wear their study-provided watch and heart rate monitor and keep a daily exercise diary.
Participants will meet with research personnel at 4 times during the study for data collection including where they will have their blood drawn and complete a 6 minute walk test. At these data collection time points, participants will also wear an activity monitor for 7 days/nights and complete surveys related to their heart failure and exercise.
- Being tested
- HEART Camp, HEART Camp Connect
- Keywords
- exercise training, patient adherence, coaching
- Medical subject headings
- Patient Compliance
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
HEART CampBehavioural
Participants will meet with an in-person coach at the medical fitness center: Months 1-3 weekly for 30 minutes; Months 4-12 every other week for 15 minutes (on alternate weeks, participants will attend a 1-hour group-based exercise training and coaching).
HEART Camp ConnectBehavioural
Participants will meet with a virtual coach from the medical fitness center via videoconferencing: Months 1-3 weekly for 30 minutes; Months 4-12 every other week for 15 minutes (on alternate weeks, participants will attend a virtual 1-hour group-based exercise training and coaching session via videoconferencing).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| HEART Camp | Experimental | Participants in the HEART Camp group will be provided paid, in-person access to the medical fitness center and in-person coaching by a trained coach. Receives: Behavioral: HEART Camp |
| HEART Camp Connect | Experimental | Participants in the HEART Camp Connect group will be provided paid, virtual access to the medical fitness center and virtual coaching by a trained coach via videoconference. Participants will also receive automated, asynchronous motivational electronic messaging if they are below the weekly adherence threshold. Receives: Behavioral: HEART Camp Connect |
| Enhanced Usual Care | No intervention | Participants in the Enhanced Usual Care group will be provided paid virtual access to the medical fitness center and virtual availability of the medical fitness center staff and study personnel for participant-initiated questions. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Exercise Adherence
Adherence is measured as weekly minutes of moderate intensity exercise as measured by a watch and heart rate sensor.
Measured: 6 months
Exercise Adherence
Adherence is measured as weekly minutes of moderate intensity exercise as measured by a watch and heart rate sensor.
Measured: 12 months
Exercise Adherence
Adherence is measured as weekly minutes of moderate intensity exercise as measured by a watch and heart rate sensor.
Measured: 18 months
Secondary outcomes (38)
HF-related Health Status
Scores on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, assessing the domains of physical limitations, HF symptoms, quality of life, social impact of HF, and self efficacy. A 23-item questionnaire where scores are generated for each domain and scaled from 0-100, with 0 denoting the worst and 100 the best possible status.
Measured: Baseline
HF-related Health Status
Scores on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, assessing the domains of physical limitations, HF symptoms, quality of life, social impact of HF, and self efficacy. A 23-item questionnaire where scores are generated for each domain and scaled from 0-100, with 0 denoting the worst and 100 the best possible status.
Measured: 6 months
HF-related Health Status
Scores on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, assessing the domains of physical limitations, HF symptoms, quality of life, social impact of HF, and self efficacy. A 23-item questionnaire where scores are generated for each domain and scaled from 0-100, with 0 denoting the worst and 100 the best possible status.
Measured: 12 months
HF-related Health Status
Scores on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, assessing the domains of physical limitations, HF symptoms, quality of life, social impact of HF, and self efficacy. A 23-item questionnaire where scores are generated for each domain and scaled from 0-100, with 0 denoting the worst and 100 the best possible status.
Measured: 18 months
Physical Function
Physical function will be measured by distance in meters completed on the 6 minute walk test.
Measured: Baseline
Physical Function
Physical function will be measured by distance in meters completed on the 6 minute walk test.
Measured: 6 months
Physical Function
Physical function will be measured by distance in meters completed on the 6 minute walk test.
Measured: 12 months
Physical Function
Physical function will be measured by distance in meters completed on the 6 minute walk test.
Measured: 18 months
Physical Activity
Physical activity will be assessed based on data gathered from participants wearing an accelerometer for 7 days/nights.
Measured: Baseline
Physical Activity
Physical activity will be assessed based on data gathered from participants wearing an accelerometer for 7 days/nights.
Measured: 6 months
Physical Activity
Physical activity will be assessed based on data gathered from participants wearing an accelerometer for 7 days/nights.
Measured: 12 months
Physical Activity
Physical activity will be assessed based on data gathered from participants wearing an accelerometer for 7 days/nights.
Measured: 18 months
Dyspnea Severity
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Dyspnea Severity 10a, assessing severity of shortness of breath in response to different activities over the prior 7-day period. 10 items are assessed on a 4-point Likert scale with raw scores ranging from 0-30. Higher scores indicate greater perceived dyspnea.
Measured: Baseline
Dyspnea Severity
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Dyspnea Severity 10a, assessing severity of shortness of breath in response to different activities over the prior 7-day period. 10 items are assessed on a 4-point Likert scale with raw scores ranging from 0-30. Higher scores indicate greater perceived dyspnea.
Measured: 6 months
Dyspnea Severity
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Dyspnea Severity 10a, assessing severity of shortness of breath in response to different activities over the prior 7-day period. 10 items are assessed on a 4-point Likert scale with raw scores ranging from 0-30. Higher scores indicate greater perceived dyspnea.
Measured: 12 months
Dyspnea Severity
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Dyspnea Severity 10a, assessing severity of shortness of breath in response to different activities over the prior 7-day period. 10 items are assessed on a 4-point Likert scale with raw scores ranging from 0-30. Higher scores indicate greater perceived dyspnea.
Measured: 18 months
Global Symptoms
PROMIS-29 Profile v2.1 assessing physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, satisfaction with social role, pain impact, and pain intensity. Pain intensity is assessed using a single 0-10 numeric rating, The 7 health domains are measured using 4 items per domain that are assessed on a 5-point Likert scale. Each domain is scored separately with raw scores ranging from 4-20, higher scores indicate worse symptomatology.
Measured: Baseline
Global Symptoms
PROMIS-29 Profile v2.1 assessing physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, satisfaction with social role, pain impact, and pain intensity. Pain intensity is assessed using a single 0-10 numeric rating, The 7 health domains are measured using 4 items per domain that are assessed on a 5-point Likert scale. Each domain is scored separately with raw scores ranging from 4-20, higher scores indicate worse symptomatology.
Measured: 6 months
Global Symptoms
PROMIS-29 Profile v2.1 assessing physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, satisfaction with social role, pain impact, and pain intensity. Pain intensity is assessed using a single 0-10 numeric rating, The 7 health domains are measured using 4 items per domain that are assessed on a 5-point Likert scale. Each domain is scored separately with raw scores ranging from 4-20, higher scores indicate worse symptomatology.
Measured: 12 months
Global Symptoms
PROMIS-29 Profile v2.1 assessing physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, satisfaction with social role, pain impact, and pain intensity. Pain intensity is assessed using a single 0-10 numeric rating, The 7 health domains are measured using 4 items per domain that are assessed on a 5-point Likert scale. Each domain is scored separately with raw scores ranging from 4-20, higher scores indicate worse symptomatology.
Measured: 18 months
Health-related Quality of Life
Euro Qual (EQ)-5 Dimension, assessing the five dimensions of mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression. 5 items are assessed on a 5-point Likert scale and a summary index with a maximum score of 1 is derived from the 5 dimensions by conversion with a table of scores. The maximum score of 1 indicates the best health state.
Measured: Baseline
Health-related Quality of Life
Euro Qual (EQ)-5 Dimension, assessing the five dimensions of mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression. 5 items are assessed on a 5-point Likert scale and a summary index with a maximum score of 1 is derived from the 5 dimensions by conversion with a table of scores. The maximum score of 1 indicates the best health state.
Measured: 6 months
Health-related Quality of Life
Euro Qual (EQ)-5 Dimension, assessing the five dimensions of mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression. 5 items are assessed on a 5-point Likert scale and a summary index with a maximum score of 1 is derived from the 5 dimensions by conversion with a table of scores. The maximum score of 1 indicates the best health state.
Measured: 12 months
Health-related Quality of Life
Euro Qual (EQ)-5 Dimension, assessing the five dimensions of mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression. 5 items are assessed on a 5-point Likert scale and a summary index with a maximum score of 1 is derived from the 5 dimensions by conversion with a table of scores. The maximum score of 1 indicates the best health state.
Measured: 18 months
Health Status
Euro Qual (EQ)-Visual Analog Scale, Participants rate their perceived health status on a scale of 0-100 with 0 indicating the worst imaginable health state and 100 indicating the best imaginable health state
Measured: Baseline
Health Status
Euro Qual (EQ)-Visual Analog Scale, Participants rate their perceived health status on a scale of 0-100 with 0 indicating the worst imaginable health state and 100 indicating the best imaginable health state
Measured: 6 months
Health Status
Euro Qual (EQ)-Visual Analog Scale, Participants rate their perceived health status on a scale of 0-100 with 0 indicating the worst imaginable health state and 100 indicating the best imaginable health state
Measured: 12 months
Health Status
Euro Qual (EQ)-Visual Analog Scale, Participants rate their perceived health status on a scale of 0-100 with 0 indicating the worst imaginable health state and 100 indicating the best imaginable health state
Measured: 18 months
C-reactive protein (CRP)
CRP will be measured from human plasma using the Mesoscale Discovery Human Biomarker Panel Unit pg/mL Min 1.33 Max 49,600
Measured: Baseline
C-reactive protein
CRP will be measured from human plasma using the Mesoscale Discovery Human Biomarker Panel Unit pg/mL Min 1.33 Max 49,600
Measured: 12 months
Interleukin 1-Beta (IL1-beta)
IL1-beta will be measured from human plasma using the Mesoscale Discovery Human Biomarker Panel Unit pg/mL Min 0.05 Max 375
Measured: Baseline
Interleukin 1-Beta
IL1-beta will be measured from human plasma using the Mesoscale Discovery Human Biomarker Panel Unit pg/mL Min 0.05 Max 375
Measured: 12 months
Interleukin 1-Alpha (IL1-alpha)
IL1-alpha will be measured from human plasma using the Mesoscale Discovery Human Biomarker Panel Unit pg/mL Min 0.09 Max 278
Measured: Baseline
Interleukin 1-Alpha
IL1-alpha will be measured from human plasma using the Mesoscale Discovery Human Biomarker Panel Unit pg/mL Min 0.09 Max 278
Measured: 12 months
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)
TNF-alpha will be measured from human plasma using the Mesoscale Discovery Human Biomarker Panel Unit pg/mL Min 0.04 Max 248
Measured: Baseline
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
TNF-alpha will be measured from human plasma using the Mesoscale Discovery Human Biomarker Panel Unit pg/mL Min 0.04 Max 248
Measured: 12 months
Tumor Necrosis Factor-beta
TNF-beta will be measured from human plasma using the Mesoscale Discovery Human Biomarker Panel Unit pg/mL Min 0.08 Max 458
Measured: Baseline
Tumor Necrosis Factor-beta
TNF-beta will be measured from human plasma using the Mesoscale Discovery Human Biomarker Panel Unit pg/mL Min 0.08 Max 458
Measured: 12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Mar 2023
- Study start20 Nov 2023
- Primary completionFeb 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionMar 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (12)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for HFpEF - Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection FractionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of NebraskaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized following a 2-2-1 (HEART Camp Connect - HEART Camp - Enhanced Usual Care) scheme to fully examine comparative effects between virtual and in-person treatment groups.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Nebraska
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Windy W Alonso, PhD, Principal investigator, University of VirginiaBunny Pozehl, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Nebraska
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05784753
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 0040-23-FB
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Mar 2023
- Last updated
- 16 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Data will be available in the NHLBI Data Repository under the standard procedures utilized by NHLBI to allow others access to the data. All data from baseline, months 6, 12 and 18 will be provided. Procedural-based data such as the cardiopulmonary exercise test results and the heart rate monitor data will also be provided.
Publications
Shah SJ, Borlaug BA, Kitzman DW, McCulloch AD, Blaxall BC, Agarwal R, Chirinos JA, Collins S, Deo RC, Gladwin MT, Granzier H, Hummel SL, Kass DA, Redfield MM, Sam F, Wang TJ, Desvigne-Nickens P, Adhikari BB. Research Priorities for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Working Group Summary. Circulation. 2020 Mar 24;141(12):1001-1026. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.041886. Epub 2020 Mar 23.
PubMed 32202936Virani SS, Alonso A, Aparicio HJ, Benjamin EJ, Bittencourt MS, Callaway CW, Carson AP, Chamberlain AM, Cheng S, Delling FN, Elkind MSV, Evenson KR, Ferguson JF, Gupta DK, Khan SS, Kissela BM, Knutson KL, Lee CD, Lewis TT, Liu J, Loop MS, Lutsey PL, Ma J, Mackey J, Martin SS, Matchar DB, Mussolino ME, Navaneethan SD, Perak AM, Roth GA, Samad Z, Satou GM, Schroeder EB, Shah SH, Shay CM, Stokes A, VanWagner LB, Wang NY, Tsao CW; American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2021 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2021 Feb 23;143(8):e254-e743. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000950. Epub 2021 Jan 27.
PubMed 33501848McMurray JJ, Adamopoulos S, Anker SD, Auricchio A, Bohm M, Dickstein K, Falk V, Filippatos G, Fonseca C, Gomez-Sanchez MA, Jaarsma T, Kober L, Lip GY, Maggioni AP, Parkhomenko A, Pieske BM, Popescu BA, Ronnevik PK, Rutten FH, Schwitter J, Seferovic P, Stepinska J, Trindade PT, Voors AA, Zannad F, Zeiher A; ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines. ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure 2012: The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure 2012 of the European Society of Cardiology. Developed in collaboration with the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC. Eur Heart J. 2012 Jul;33(14):1787-847. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehs104. Epub 2012 May 19. No abstract available.
PubMed 22611136Fleg JL, Cooper LS, Borlaug BA, Haykowsky MJ, Kraus WE, Levine BD, Pfeffer MA, Pina IL, Poole DC, Reeves GR, Whellan DJ, Kitzman DW; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Working Group. Exercise training as therapy for heart failure: current status and future directions. Circ Heart Fail. 2015 Jan;8(1):209-20. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.113.001420. No abstract available.
PubMed 25605639Pandey A, Parashar A, Kumbhani D, Agarwal S, Garg J, Kitzman D, Levine B, Drazner M, Berry J. Exercise training in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: meta-analysis of randomized control trials. Circ Heart Fail. 2015 Jan;8(1):33-40. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.114.001615. Epub 2014 Nov 16.
PubMed 25399909Pozehl BJ, Duncan K, Hertzog M, McGuire R, Norman JF, Artinian NT, Keteyian SJ. Study of adherence to exercise in heart failure: the HEART camp trial protocol. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2014 Nov 29;14:172. doi: 10.1186/1471-2261-14-172.
PubMed 25433674Pozehl BJ, McGuire R, Duncan K, Kupzyk K, Norman J, Artinian NT, Deka P, Krueger SK, Saval MA, Keteyian SJ. Effects of the HEART Camp Trial on Adherence to Exercise in Patients With Heart Failure. J Card Fail. 2018 Oct;24(10):654-660. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2018.06.007. Epub 2018 Aug 16.
PubMed 30010027Warehime S, Dinkel D, Alonso W, Pozehl B. Long-term exercise adherence in patients with heart failure: A qualitative study. Heart Lung. 2020 Nov-Dec;49(6):696-701. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2020.08.016. Epub 2020 Aug 27.
PubMed 32861888Alonso WW, Kupzyk K, Norman J, Bills SE, Bosak K, Dunn SL, Deka P, Pozehl B. Negative Attitudes, Self-efficacy, and Relapse Management Mediate Long-Term Adherence to Exercise in Patients With Heart Failure. Ann Behav Med. 2021 Oct 4;55(10):1031-1041. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaab002.
PubMed 33580663Norman JF, Kupzyk KA, Artinian NT, Keteyian SJ, Alonso WS, Bills SE, Pozehl BJ. The influence of the HEART Camp intervention on physical function, health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety and fatigue in patients with heart failure. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2020 Jan;19(1):64-73. doi: 10.1177/1474515119867444. Epub 2019 Aug 2.
PubMed 31373222Keteyian SJ. Exercise training in congestive heart failure: risks and benefits. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2011 May-Jun;53(6):419-28. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2011.02.005.
PubMed 21545928Pozehl BJ, Mcguire R, Duncan K, Hertzog M, Deka P, Norman J, Artinian NT, Saval MA, Keteyian SJ. Accelerometer-Measured Daily Activity Levels and Related Factors in Patients With Heart Failure. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2018 Jul/Aug;33(4):329-335. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000464.
PubMed 29538050
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- HEART (Heart Failure Exercise and Resistance Training) Camp Connect: Promoting Adherence to Exercise in Adults With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05784753
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 0040-23-FB
- Keywords
- exercise training, patient adherence, coaching
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of NebraskaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Feb 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Mar 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this study is to learn more about patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and exercise. Investigators want to see if meeting with a coach in person or by video conference will help these patients exercise, feel better, and change markers in their blood. Participants will be randomly placed in one of three groups for 18 months. All groups will have access to a fitness center and be given a watch and heart rate monitor to wear during exercise. The usual care group (control group) will have access to exercise videos via the medical fitness center and will not meet with a coach. The HEART Camp group will exercise and meet with their coach in-person at the medical fitness center. The HEART Camp Connect group will have access to exercise videos via the medical fitness center and will meet with their coach via videoconferencing. All participants will take part in an exercise test and study training prior to being randomized. At four data collection time points, participants will wear an activity monitor for 7 days each, have their blood drawn, and answer questions related to heart failure and exercise. Participants will also wear a heart rate monitor when they exercise and fill out a daily exercise diary.
Detailed description
The overall objectives for this study are to: (a) test the efficacy of virtual and in-person exercise interventions to promote long-term adherence to exercise; (b) determine a benchmark of exercise minutes that reaches a minimal clinically important difference in heart failure related health status and drives improvements in physical function, inflammatory markers, and patient-reported outcomes; (c) identify interventional mechanisms, interim clinical events and prognostic indicators of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) that mediate adherence; (d) assess delivery method and related cost of the intervention to support translation and scalability. To meet these objectives, investigators propose a three-group, 2-2-1 randomized repeated measures experimental design with 4 data collection points [baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months to compare HEART Camp, HEART Camp Connect, and virtual enhanced usual care (EUC).
This study begins with the cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) . The CPET is used to develop an exercise prescription and ensure participant safety and readiness for exercise. Participants who have completed a CPET within 6 months of enrollment with no changes in medications will not repeat the test. Any participants who exhibit potential safety concerns during CPET (e.g. cardiac arrhythmias, balance instability) will be evaluated by a trained providers, prior to continuing in the study. Those deemed unsafe to exercise will be withdrawn. After the CPET, participants will take part in the run-in period with 3 monitored sessions in cardiac rehabilitation and study orientation. All participants will be oriented during a one-time in-person training to familiarize them with the 1) Either in-person Engage center or Engage virtual platform via the HEART Camp You Tube channel; 2) All monitoring devices (Polar watch and Polar heart rate monitor, Actigraph, rating of perceived exertion scale, and exercise diary); and 3) Private HEART Camp You Tube channel where they can view investigator-developed educational videos specific to HFpEF and virtual exercise content. Participants who do not have a smart device with internet capability or have an insufficient data plan will be given a tablet with a wireless data plan for study use.
After randomization, participants in the intervention groups (HEART Camp Connect and HEART Camp) meet with a coach for the first 12 months of the study. The HEART Camp group will meet in-person at the medical fitness center with their coach. The HEART Camp Connect group will meet virtually, over videoconference. To improve the scalability of this intervention, investigators will taper coaching sessions according to the following schedule: Months 1-3 weekly, 1-on-1 coaching for 30 minutes; Months 4-12 1-on-1 coaching is reduced to 15 minute sessions every other week. On alternate weeks, participants will attend a 1-hour group-based exercise training and coaching. During these sessions, the coach will meet with 4-6 participants at once. One half of the class will be an exercise training session and the other half will be a question/answer session for participants to talk to the coach and each other about strategies for exercise. After 12 months, coaching (both intervention groups) and motivational messages (HEART Camp Connect only) will stop and participants will be expected to self-regulate exercise in months 13-18.
Participants will be asked to build up to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly. During exercise sessions, participants will be asked to wear their study-provided watch and heart rate monitor and keep a daily exercise diary.
Participants will meet with research personnel at 4 times during the study for data collection including where they will have their blood drawn and complete a 6 minute walk test. At these data collection time points, participants will also wear an activity monitor for 7 days/nights and complete surveys related to their heart failure and exercise.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized following a 2-2-1 (HEART Camp Connect - HEART Camp - Enhanced Usual Care) scheme to fully examine comparative effects between virtual and in-person treatment groups.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| HEART Camp | Experimental | Behavioral: HEART CampParticipants in the HEART Camp group will be provided paid, in-person access to the medical fitness center and in-person coaching by a trained coach. |
| HEART Camp Connect | Experimental | Behavioral: HEART Camp ConnectParticipants in the HEART Camp Connect group will be provided paid, virtual access to the medical fitness center and virtual coaching by a trained coach via videoconference. Participants will also receive automated, asynchronous motivational electronic messaging if they are below the weekly adherence threshold. |
| Enhanced Usual Care | No intervention | –Participants in the Enhanced Usual Care group will be provided paid virtual access to the medical fitness center and virtual availability of the medical fitness center staff and study personnel for participant-initiated questions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Diagnosis of heart failure with an ejection fraction greater than or equal to 50
- Echocardiogram in prior 24 months
- Stable pharmacologic therapy in the past 30 days
- Any of the following evidence to confirm HFpEF - Score< 6 on Heavy Hypertensive Atrial Fibrillation, Pulmonary Hypertension, Elder, Filling Pressure algorithm, invasive hemodynamic evidence of HFpEF(i.e., elevated pulmonary wedge pressure), or a confirmed clinical diagnosis of HFpEF
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Life-limiting illness precluding study completion
- Clinical evidence of decompensated heart failure
- Unstable angina or marked shortness of breath on exertion at less than 2 metabolic equivalents
- Myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, or biventricular pacemaker in prior 6 weeks
- Orthopedic or neuromuscular disorders preventing aerobic exercise
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| HEART CampParticipants will meet with an in-person coach at the medical fitness center: Months 1-3 weekly for 30 minutes; Months 4-12 every other week for 15 minutes (on alternate weeks, participants will attend a 1-hour group-based exercise training and coaching). | Behavioural | HEART Camp |
| HEART Camp ConnectParticipants will meet with a virtual coach from the medical fitness center via videoconferencing: Months 1-3 weekly for 30 minutes; Months 4-12 every other week for 15 minutes (on alternate weeks, participants will attend a virtual 1-hour group-based exercise training and coaching session via videoconferencing). | Behavioural | HEART Camp Connect |
Primary outcome
Exercise Adherence
Time frame: 6 months
Adherence is measured as weekly minutes of moderate intensity exercise as measured by a watch and heart rate sensor.
Exercise Adherence
Time frame: 12 months
Adherence is measured as weekly minutes of moderate intensity exercise as measured by a watch and heart rate sensor.
Exercise Adherence
Time frame: 18 months
Adherence is measured as weekly minutes of moderate intensity exercise as measured by a watch and heart rate sensor.
38 secondary outcomes
HF-related Health Status
Time frame: Baseline
HF-related Health Status
Time frame: 6 months
HF-related Health Status
Time frame: 12 months
HF-related Health Status
Time frame: 18 months
Physical Function
Time frame: Baseline
Physical Function
Time frame: 6 months
Physical Function
Time frame: 12 months
Physical Function
Time frame: 18 months
Physical Activity
Time frame: Baseline
Physical Activity
Time frame: 6 months
Physical Activity
Time frame: 12 months
Physical Activity
Time frame: 18 months
Dyspnea Severity
Time frame: Baseline
Dyspnea Severity
Time frame: 6 months
Dyspnea Severity
Time frame: 12 months
Dyspnea Severity
Time frame: 18 months
Global Symptoms
Time frame: Baseline
Global Symptoms
Time frame: 6 months
Global Symptoms
Time frame: 12 months
Global Symptoms
Time frame: 18 months
Health-related Quality of Life
Time frame: Baseline
Health-related Quality of Life
Time frame: 6 months
Health-related Quality of Life
Time frame: 12 months
Health-related Quality of Life
Time frame: 18 months
Health Status
Time frame: Baseline
Health Status
Time frame: 6 months
Health Status
Time frame: 12 months
Health Status
Time frame: 18 months
C-reactive protein (CRP)
Time frame: Baseline
C-reactive protein
Time frame: 12 months
Interleukin 1-Beta (IL1-beta)
Time frame: Baseline
Interleukin 1-Beta
Time frame: 12 months
Interleukin 1-Alpha (IL1-alpha)
Time frame: Baseline
Interleukin 1-Alpha
Time frame: 12 months
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)
Time frame: Baseline
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Time frame: 12 months
Tumor Necrosis Factor-beta
Time frame: Baseline
Tumor Necrosis Factor-beta
Time frame: 12 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Jan 2026.
- Background: PubMed 32202936Shah SJ, Borlaug BA, Kitzman DW, McCulloch AD, Blaxall BC, Agarwal R, Chirinos JA, Collins S, Deo RC, Gladwin MT, Granzier H, Hummel SL, Kass DA, Redfield MM, Sam F, Wang TJ, Desvigne-Nickens P, Adhikari BB. Research Priorities for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Working Group Summary. Circulation. 2020 Mar 24;141(12):1001-1026. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.041886. Epub 2020 Mar 23.
- Background: PubMed 33501848Virani SS, Alonso A, Aparicio HJ, Benjamin EJ, Bittencourt MS, Callaway CW, Carson AP, Chamberlain AM, Cheng S, Delling FN, Elkind MSV, Evenson KR, Ferguson JF, Gupta DK, Khan SS, Kissela BM, Knutson KL, Lee CD, Lewis TT, Liu J, Loop MS, Lutsey PL, Ma J, Mackey J, Martin SS, Matchar DB, Mussolino ME, Navaneethan SD, Perak AM, Roth GA, Samad Z, Satou GM, Schroeder EB, Shah SH, Shay CM, Stokes A, VanWagner LB, Wang NY, Tsao CW; American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2021 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2021 Feb 23;143(8):e254-e743. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000950. Epub 2021 Jan 27.
- Background: PubMed 22611136McMurray JJ, Adamopoulos S, Anker SD, Auricchio A, Bohm M, Dickstein K, Falk V, Filippatos G, Fonseca C, Gomez-Sanchez MA, Jaarsma T, Kober L, Lip GY, Maggioni AP, Parkhomenko A, Pieske BM, Popescu BA, Ronnevik PK, Rutten FH, Schwitter J, Seferovic P, Stepinska J, Trindade PT, Voors AA, Zannad F, Zeiher A; ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines. ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure 2012: The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure 2012 of the European Society of Cardiology. Developed in collaboration with the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC. Eur Heart J. 2012 Jul;33(14):1787-847. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehs104. Epub 2012 May 19. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 25605639Fleg JL, Cooper LS, Borlaug BA, Haykowsky MJ, Kraus WE, Levine BD, Pfeffer MA, Pina IL, Poole DC, Reeves GR, Whellan DJ, Kitzman DW; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Working Group. Exercise training as therapy for heart failure: current status and future directions. Circ Heart Fail. 2015 Jan;8(1):209-20. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.113.001420. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 25399909Pandey A, Parashar A, Kumbhani D, Agarwal S, Garg J, Kitzman D, Levine B, Drazner M, Berry J. Exercise training in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: meta-analysis of randomized control trials. Circ Heart Fail. 2015 Jan;8(1):33-40. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.114.001615. Epub 2014 Nov 16.
- Background: PubMed 25433674Pozehl BJ, Duncan K, Hertzog M, McGuire R, Norman JF, Artinian NT, Keteyian SJ. Study of adherence to exercise in heart failure: the HEART camp trial protocol. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2014 Nov 29;14:172. doi: 10.1186/1471-2261-14-172.
- Background: PubMed 30010027Pozehl BJ, McGuire R, Duncan K, Kupzyk K, Norman J, Artinian NT, Deka P, Krueger SK, Saval MA, Keteyian SJ. Effects of the HEART Camp Trial on Adherence to Exercise in Patients With Heart Failure. J Card Fail. 2018 Oct;24(10):654-660. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2018.06.007. Epub 2018 Aug 16.
- Background: PubMed 32861888Warehime S, Dinkel D, Alonso W, Pozehl B. Long-term exercise adherence in patients with heart failure: A qualitative study. Heart Lung. 2020 Nov-Dec;49(6):696-701. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2020.08.016. Epub 2020 Aug 27.
- Background: PubMed 33580663Alonso WW, Kupzyk K, Norman J, Bills SE, Bosak K, Dunn SL, Deka P, Pozehl B. Negative Attitudes, Self-efficacy, and Relapse Management Mediate Long-Term Adherence to Exercise in Patients With Heart Failure. Ann Behav Med. 2021 Oct 4;55(10):1031-1041. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaab002.
- Background: PubMed 31373222Norman JF, Kupzyk KA, Artinian NT, Keteyian SJ, Alonso WS, Bills SE, Pozehl BJ. The influence of the HEART Camp intervention on physical function, health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety and fatigue in patients with heart failure. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2020 Jan;19(1):64-73. doi: 10.1177/1474515119867444. Epub 2019 Aug 2.
- Background: PubMed 21545928Keteyian SJ. Exercise training in congestive heart failure: risks and benefits. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2011 May-Jun;53(6):419-28. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2011.02.005.
- Background: PubMed 29538050Pozehl BJ, Mcguire R, Duncan K, Hertzog M, Deka P, Norman J, Artinian NT, Saval MA, Keteyian SJ. Accelerometer-Measured Daily Activity Levels and Related Factors in Patients With Heart Failure. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2018 Jul/Aug;33(4):329-335. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000464.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Data will be available in the NHLBI Data Repository under the standard procedures utilized by NHLBI to allow others access to the data. All data from baseline, months 6, 12 and 18 will be provided. Procedural-based data such as the cardiopulmonary exercise test results and the heart rate monitor data will also be provided.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Windy W Alonso, PhD principal investigator
University of Virginia
Bunny Pozehl, PhD principal investigator
University of Nebraska
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing HEART Camp and HEART Camp Connect in people with HFpEF - Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction, run by University of Nebraska at 3 sites in United States.
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 4 inclusion and 9 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 3 sites in United States. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Windy W Alonso, PhD (402-559-8342, windy.alonso@unmc.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Exercise Adherence (time frame: 6 months). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT05784753, which also lists 12 linked publications.
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 16 Jan 2026.