Clinical Research Directory

REACTION-VAD Trial: Remote Exercise Training Via Telemedicine in Patients With Long-Term Ventricular Assist Devices

Current international guidelines recommend that patients with a heart pump (left ventricular assist device, LVAD) participate in supervised exercise cardiac rehabilitation programs. However, not all patients with a heart pump are able to attend to a supervised program on a daily basis. The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether a home-based exercise program helps patients with a heart pump improve their exercise capacity and quality of life, guided by telemedicine tools including a mobile app, smartwatch, and remote medical checkups. The study will also provide information about the safety of this program by monitoring for any issues or symptoms during home activity. The trial aims to answer the following questions: * Does a 12-week remote exercise program improve patients' exercise capacity? This will be measured using the 6-minute walk test and a cardiopulmonary exercise test. * Is it safe for patients to follow this exercise plan at home while being monitored through a mobile app and smartwatch? * Does the program improve quality of life and reduce feelings of anxiety or depression? This will be assessed using widely validated questionnaires, such as the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire. Researchers will compare the remote exercise program to standard care, which usually does not include exercise for patients who are unable to attend the hospital daily. Participants will: * Join the study voluntarily after signing a consent form. * Be randomly assigned, with a 50% chance of being in either the exercise group (following a structured plan with a mobile app) or the usual care group (receiving general written advice), to see which approach works best for recovery. * Follow a 12-week home-based routine if in the exercise group, including warm-up routine, walking or cycling, respiratory exercises, and light strength training, all supported by the mobile app, smartwatch, and professional monitoring. * Visit the hospital three times over six months for medical checkups, including walking and exercise tests, blood analyses, and questionnaires about physical and emotional health.

Ted Rogers Understanding of Exacerbations in Heart Failure 2: Monitor

Heart Failure (HF) is a complex disease associated with the highest burden of cost to the healthcare system. The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is instrumental in determining the prognosis of patients with HF. This multicentre study will validate whether aggregate biometric data from the Apple Watch combined with demographic, cardiac, and biomarker testing can improve our ability to predict heart failure outcomes among a diverse outpatient HF population.

Test-Retest Reliability And Validation For End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Measurement (PetCO2) During Rest And Low-Loaded Steady State Work Using A Portable Capnograph.

The goal of this observational study is to investigate exhaled carbon dioxide measuring during rest and low-loaded work using a portable device (capnograph) and standard of care apparatus during a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in healthy volunteers. The study aims to answer: How reliable is exhaled end-tidal carbon dioxide measurement for an individual over time using both standard of care apparatus and a portable device during an ergometer test? Do the measurements correlate between the portable device and standard of care apparatus? How do changes in breathing instructions and placement of sampling cannula affect the measurements from the portable device (capnograph)? How is the reliability over time of other well established values from a cardio pulmonary exercise test? Participants will be asked to perform a modified cardiopulmonary exercise test on an ergometer twice, separated in time (1-4 weeks). Measurements are sampled alternating standard of care apparatus and a portable capnograph at rest and during low-loaded work.