Clinical Research Directory

The Effect of Women's Heart Health Awareness Program

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of a gender-specific heart health protection awareness program, incorporating video-supported reminder messages, on knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP) regarding cardiovascular diseases and health literacy among adult women aged 20 to 64 with no prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. The centers where the study is conducted will be divided into intervention (n=4) and control (n=5) groups using cluster randomization. While the intervention group receives a heart health awareness program consisting of three sessions in total, including education, risk factor screening, and individual counseling over a period of three weeks, the control group will receive standard of care. Data will be collected at the beginning of the first session and after the completion of the final session.

Determining Efficacy of an Artificial Intelligence-based System for Heart Failure Detection Through Interpretation of Electrocardiograms (DECISION)

The DECISION trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered system, Willem™, for improving the detection of heart failure (HF) in primary care settings by interpreting electrocardiograms (ECGs). The study seeks to answer whether AI-assisted ECG interpretation enhances diagnostic accuracy and clinical outcomes compared to standard ECG evaluation in patients with suspected HF or those at high risk. This multicenter, pragmatic, randomized clinical trial involves two groups: patients receiving AI-assisted ECG analysis and those undergoing standard ECG evaluation. The study's primary analysis will compare the diagnostic performance of AI-assisted ECG versus standard ECG using sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value metrics. Secondary analyses will evaluate healthcare resource utilization, clinical outcomes, and usability feedback from healthcare providers. Results will inform the potential integration of AI-assisted ECG in routine primary care workflows for earlier HF detection and better resource allocation.

Clinical Management of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adult Patients: A Before-and-After Interventional Study

This study aims to evaluate cardiovascular risk factors, clinical characteristics, and outcomes in adult patients attending an outpatient cardiology clinic. The research focuses on identifying predictors of adverse cardiovascular events, optimizing risk stratification, and improving preventive strategies in routine clinical practice. Data will be collected from patients receiving standard cardiology care without altering their treatment. The results are expected to contribute to better understanding of cardiovascular risk profiles and to support improvements in clinical decision-making and patient management.

Augmenting Primary Care-Based Obesity Management With the Nutu™ Digital Health Platform

This study evaluates the acceptability and clinical effectiveness of integrating the Nutu™ digital health platform into a comprehensive primary care-based behavioral obesity treatment program using a Zelen randomized controlled trial design.

Sleep and Circadian Mechanisms in Hypertension

This study is a mechanistic clinical trial designed to investigate the effects of the circadian system and sleep on non-dipping blood pressure (BP) in people with hypertension (HTN).

Effects of Sweetener Consumption on Risk Factors for Heart Disease in Prediabetic Subjects

The aim of this prospective interventional study is to investigate the metabolic effects of consuming artificial and natural sweeteners in persons with prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition characterized by blood sugar levels that are elevated above normal but not yet meeting the criteria for type 2 diabetes. This condition markedly increases the risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes, which in turn can lead to complications including cardiovascular diseases. Artificial sweeteners such as saccharin and sucralose, as well as natural sugar substitutes like erythritol, are increasingly used as alternatives to sugar and are recommended for individuals at cardiometabolic risk - including overweight individuals, patients with prediabetes, or diabetics - to help reduce caloric intake. Recent literature has reported possible negative associations between artificial sweeteners and blood sugar regulation in healthy subjects (1). Additionally, effects on various blood cells have been observed. For example, erythritol has been shown to alter platelet function leading to increased reactivity in healthy study participants following consumption (2). However, the impact of alternative sweeteners on metabolic processes and their effects on blood coagulation in patients with prediabetes-a population at increased risk-has not been systematically studied. In this planned interventional study, 80 patients meeting laboratory criteria for prediabetes will be randomly assigned to one of four groups, each receiving a different intervention for two weeks: saccharin, sucralose, erythritol, or a control group receiving water. The doses reflect the acceptable daily intake or known doses that are considered safe. After enrollment, participants will visit the study center 2 times: before starting the intervention and after completing the intervention. During these visits, biological samples such as blood, urine, and stool will be collected to study metabolism, gut bacteria, immune and blood cell function. Tests will include an oral glucose tolerance test, coagulation tests, and additional blood analyses. Additionally, participants will wear a glucose monitor to track blood sugar fluctuations during the intervention. The investigators hypothesize that consumption of alternative sweeteners negatively affects blood sugar regulation and insulin sensitivity in patients with prediabetes. Furthermore, this study will explore how the candidate sweeteners influence the gut microbiome, blood cells and other metabolic factors in this population.

Velocity-Based Resistance Training in Kidney Transplant Recipients

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of velocity-based resistance training on renal function and metabolic health in kidney transplant recipients. Participants will be randomized into two groups performing resistance training at different execution velocities (maximal intended vs. submaximal controlled). The intervention will last 12 weeks and include multi-joint exercises (squat, bench press, military press). Primary outcomes include renal function (serum creatinine, eGFR, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid) and metabolic markers (HDL, triglycerides, glucose, waist circumference, blood pressure). Secondary outcomes include muscle strength, force-velocity profile, anthropometry, physical activity, fitness perception, and adherence to immunosuppressive medication.

CARAMEL: Retrospective Study for Personalized Risk Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease in Menopausal and Perimenopausal Women Using Real World Data

This retrospective observational study, part of the EU-funded CARAMEL project, aims to develop and validate personalized cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment models specifically designed for menopausal and perimenopausal women (ages 40-60). The study leverages Real World Data (RWD) collected from multiple international clinical partners, including electronic health records (EHR), diagnostic imaging data, and signal data. The main objective is to improve the prediction of CVD precursors such as hypertension and dyslipidemia, as well as mid- and long-term risk of CVD events, through advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models. These models will be trained on multimodal data to capture complex, individualized risk trajectories that current risk calculators fail to address, particularly in women. Special focus is placed on under-researched, women-specific risk factors and their interactions with traditional predictors. The study includes several research objectives: (1) predicting the onset of hypertension and dyslipidemia using EHR data; (2) modeling the long-term risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events and disease trajectories; (3) identifying novel imaging biomarkers from routine screening tests such as mammography, DXA, ultrasound, and cardiac MRI; (4) developing multimodal prediction models combining imaging and clinical data; (5) creating automated AI tools for imaging biomarker extraction; and (6) using signal data from cardiac devices to predict disease progression and events. The study population consists of middle-aged women with retrospective data available across different health systems. The expected outcome is a validated set of stratified, personalized CVD risk models that can support targeted prevention strategies and enable more equitable, sex-specific care. This will contribute to reducing the burden of CVD in women and addressing critical gaps in early detection, clinical decision-making, and health policy. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 101156210.

Pharmacist Case Finding and Intervention for Vascular Prevention Trial

Heart disease is a common and serious medical condition which causes nearly one in every three deaths worldwide every year. The factors which increase people's risk for heart disease are well-known, but there needs to be more support given to people to reduce their risk of heart disease. Pharmacists are front line primary healthcare providers who see patients more frequently than any other healthcare provider and can help people reduce their risk of heart disease. This research project aims to see whether a pharmacist-led intervention can help people reduce their risk of heart disease. The potential impact of this project is to empower people to understand how to reduce their risk of heart disease and reduce the burden of heart disease on the community.

The Effect of a Digital Heart Health App and Lifestyle Intervention for Heart Disease in Primary Care.

Despite the availability of medications, many people around the world continue to live with long-term health problems like heart disease, stroke and diabetes. In Canada, heart disease is a leading cause of death. Managing these health issues can be done by changing diet and lifestyle. Specific ways of eating have been proven to improve risk for heart disease and stroke. However, because doctors often have limited time, nutrition education, and lack of tools for counseling patients on nutrition, they can often only provide minimal support to help patients make necessary lifestyle changes. Digital tools and mobile applications offer an opportunity to involve doctors and patients in delivering nutrition interventions. This approach has the potential to save time, provide education, and reduce healthcare costs. This study is being done to understand the effect of a digital heart health program added to standard of care, compared with standard of care alone on heart health. All eligible participants in this study will be randomized (determined by chance) to one of two possible interventions: 1) a digital heart health program + standard of care; 2) standard of care. Standard is care is defined as the best practice based on guidelines for the treatment of a condition. All participants will be followed for seven years and will be asked to complete online questionnaires and complete blood work at their nearest LifeLabs clinic, as well as wear a continuous glucose monitor and wrist actigraph (at 3 time points in the first year). In addition, participants randomized to the digital heart health program + standard of care will be expected to use the heart health app and join 16 online synchronous sessions over the first year. After seven years, the intervention phase of the study will end and the study will become a cohort study. All participants at the 7-year time point will be invited to use the heart health app. As part of the cohort study, participants will be asked to continue completing the same questionnaires online and completing bloodwork at their nearest LifeLabs every four years for the duration of their participation in the cohort study. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Will a digital heart health program added to standard of care result in a clinically meaningful reduction in blood cholesterol and other risk factors after 1-year compared to standard of care alone? 2. Will a digital heart health program added to standard of care result in a reduction in major cardiovascular events after 7-years compared to standard of care alone? 3. Are the observed effects sustained beyond the 7-years of the intervention? We hypothesize that the digital heart health program added to standard of care will result in a clinically meaningful reduction in blood cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease after 1-year and reduce major cardiovascular events after 7-years compared to standard of care alone.

Achieving Cardiovascular Health Equity in Community Mental Health: Optimizing Implementation Strategies

In this trial, the investigators will examine the uptake of the evidenced-based IDEAL Goals program, a heart disease risk reduction program, while testing different implementation strategies with our partners in Michigan and Maryland who serve persons with serious mental illness (SMI).

Ice Cream Enriched With Cimarrón Bean Extrudate and Cardiovascular Risk in Adults

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the chronic effects of consuming a functional ice cream enriched with Cimarrón bean (Phaseolus vulgaris local variety Cimarrón) extrudate in adults with at least one cardiovascular risk factor. The main question it aims to answer is: * Does chronic daily consumption of the functional ice cream with Cimarrón bean extrudate improve fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profile, and other cardiovascular risk markers? Researchers will compare a functional ice cream containing 10 g of extrudate per100 g to a placebo version without extrudate, using a crossover design in which participants consume both versions for 4 weeks each, separated by a 3-week washout period to determine metabolic responses. Participants will: * Attend clinical visits in fasting conditions at the beginning and end of each 4-week intervention to provide blood samples for glucose, insuli, lipid profile, complete blood count plus Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and HbA1c assessment. * Undergo anthroprometric measurements and blood pressure assessment at the beginning and end of each 4-week intervention. * Consume 100g/day of the assigned ice cream during each phase (Two phases)

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Physical Activity in Chronic Kidney Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis

The objective of this study was to examine the association between cardiovascular risk factors and physical activity parameters in patients with chronic kidney disease who are treated with peritoneal dialysis.

Redirecting Poor Sleep Drivers of Early Cardiovascular Disease

Sleep health is a critical component of cardiovascular well-being, and poor sleep has been linked with increased risk for all-cause mortality including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Moreover, many individuals within a population may have underlying, subclinical cardiovascular conditions, such as hypertension and arterial stiffness, and these may risk progressing to advanced CVD when coupled with inadequate sleep duration and quality. Given that Singapore ranks as the third most sleep-deprived city globally, understanding the relationship between sleep health and the prevalence and progression of CVD becomes increasingly important for population health. In addition, depression and psychological stress could also lead to poorer cardiovascular health by increasing blood cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure, and could also be directly related to or arise as a result of poor sleep. The aim of the current study is to track sleep and mental health using a combination of objective sleep tracking (Oura ring) and smartphone-based questionnaires (EMA), and examine their associations with detailed cardiovascular health data collected by the project RESET (Redirecting Immune, Lipid and Metabolic Drivers of Early Cardiovascular Disease).

The SWITCH (Substitution of High With Low Ultra-processed Soy Protein Foods In a Guideline-based Diet inTervention for Cardiometabolic Health) Trial

This is a randomized, controlled, parallel study with 3 experimental arms aimed to assess the effect of a digital dietary intervention (web-based app, online behavior change curriculum) enhanced with 10 servings of vegetables and fruit (5 as dietary advice within the app, 5 within a dehydrated vegetable and fruit blend), with or without high Ultra Processed Food (UPF) soy-containing proteins compared to standard of care (usual care) on systolic blood pressure (SBP; primary outcome), and other key cardiometabolic endpoints over 12-weeks in adults living with hypertension and obesity, 50% with type 2 diabetes. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Are nutrient-dense, high-UPF soy-protein foods similar (non-inferior) to low-UPF soy-protein foods in the context of a guidelines-based diet in their effect on blood pressure and other cardiometabolic risk factors? 2. Does an enhanced digital dietary intervention lead to meaningful reductions in blood pressure and other cardiometabolic risk factors compared to standard of care? Participants who are eligible and consent to be part of this study will be randomized to one of the following groups: 1) Active treatment (high-UPF soy-containing enhanced digital dietary intervention), 2) Reference treatment (low-UPF soy-containing enhanced digital dietary intervention), or 3) Control (standard of care). Participant Requirements: During the 12-week intervention, all participants will be required to attend in-person clinic visits at baseline (week 0), week 8 and 12. Baseline Visit (Week 0): Participants will be asked to arrive in a fasted state (no food or beverages, except water, for 10-12 hours before the visit). * Undergo various assessments, including anthropometric measurements, office blood pressure readings, and blood sampling (via a capillary finger prick and blood sample taken by the study nurse). * Review the 7-day food records completed using the Keenoa mobile app one week prior to clinic visit. * Bring fecal and urine samples from home. * Complete and review all questionnaires received via email one week prior. Telephone Check-in (Week 1): One week after beginning the study, the study staff will call participants to check in on how participants are following the protocol and answer any questions. Mid-Study Visit (Week 8): Participants will be asked to arrive in a fasted state (no food or beverages, except water, for 10-12 hours before the visit). * Have their office blood pressure and anthropometric measurements taken. * Complete and review all questionnaires received via email one week prior * Review the 3-day food records completed using the Keenoa mobile app one week prior to clinic visit. Final Study Visit (Week 12): Participants will be asked to arrive in a fasted state (no food or beverages, except water, for 10-12 hours before the visit). * Undergo various assessments, including anthropometric measurements, office blood pressure readings, and blood sampling (via a capillary finger prick and blood sample taken by the study nurse). * Review the 7-day food records completed using the Keenoa mobile app one week prior to clinic visit. * Bring fecal and urine samples from home. * Complete and review all questionnaires received via email one week prior. Throughout the study, participants will be asked to continue their usual lifestyle and physical activity. Additional Requirements for Treatment Groups: Participants randomized to the active and reference treatment groups will also be required to: * Incorporate a study vegetable and fruit blend (provided) into their daily diet for the full 12 weeks * Consume soy products categorized as either high ultra processed soy foods at least 4 servings per day, including at least 2 servings of ultra processed soy milk and 2 servings of other soy-based products (e.g., soy yogurt, soy burgers, or soy ground round) or non-ultra processed soy foods at least 4 servings per day, including at least 2 servings of minimally processed soy milk, 1 serving of edamame or roasted soy nuts, and 1 serving of tofu or tempeh * Participate in the digital dietary intervention, which includes: a health app, 7-day Kickstart Package, weekly text message support, and a 7-session online interactive program designed based on behaviour change theory * Attend a virtual focus group at Week 4 and complete an online feedback questionnaire

The Oxford Risk Factors And Non-Invasive Imaging Study

ORFAN is a prospective, multi-centre, multi-ethnic cohort observational study collecting CT scans, biological material and outcomes data, to develop and validate novel biomarkers of cardiometabolic and other disease risk.

Role of Coronary CTA on Lipid Management and Risk Factors Control in an Asymptomatic Chinese Population

The primary objective of this study is to determine whether coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) -based coronary heart disease(CHD) prevention strategy improves lipid-lowering treatment and cardiovascular risk factor control compared with traditional CHD prevention strategy, guided by a cardiovascular risk score.

Effect of Monitoring Continuous Glucose Levels and Physical Activity Via Wearables on Cardiovascular Risk Factors

The study aims to assess the effect of smart watches and continuous glucose measuring devices on cardiovascular risk factors.

Sex-differential Host-microbiome CVD Risk - A Longitudinal Cohort Approach

The XCVD study investigates the influence of sex hormones on the composition of the gut microbiome and the possible emergence of cardiovascular risk factors. It will follow 200 healthy transgender individuals for two years during their hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and analyze them for the possible emergence of cardiovascular risk factors in relation to changes in the gut microbiome, metabolome, and immunome. We would also like to phenotype cardiovascular disease.

Correlation of Artherosclerotic Plaque Volume and Intima Media Thickness With Soluble P-selectin

The proposed project is a prospective observational, single-center cohort study aimed to examine the progression of atherosclerotic alterations of the carotid arteries (IMT, plaque volume) during a follow-up of up to four years and to correlate the observed changes with traditional and novel biomarkers of atherosclerosis. A total of 600 subsequent patients with or established cardiovascular disease or at least one cardiovascular risk will be tested with a high-frequency ultrasound probe equipped with automated IMT measurements and 3D quantitative plaque volumetry. Plasma samples will be collected and tested for traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors. Both ultrasound examinations and blood sampling will be repeated once per year to assess changes in these parameters over time depending on treatment modalities, which are left to the discretion of the treating physicians. The primary endpoint of the planned study will be the correlation between P-selectin and the progression of atherosclerosis as measured by plaque volume and IMT in the carotid and femoral arteries, respectively. Secondary endpoints will include the correlation of established (hypertension, smoking, diabetes, dyslipidemia) and novel risk factors (hsCRP, P-selectin, cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), CETP TaqIb polymorphism) with the progression of atherosclerosis, the correlation of cardiovascular events with the progression of atherosclerosis and the additional predictive value of plaque volume and IMT compared to an established risk score (SCORE card).

Swiss Longitudinal Cohort

The planned research project is a prospective population-based cohort study, similar to the well-known Framingham study in the United States. So far, there is no similar research project in Switzerland. It is planned to examine of three Swiss municipalities. Recruitment in a first Swiss municipality (Lostallo/Cama GR) started 2014 and ended in 2019. Overall, 496 participants were recruited in this municipality. The five-year follow-up in this municipality started in 2019. It is planned to start recruitment in a second Swiss municipality (Uznach SG) in 2020. The examinations embrace a broad spectrum of measurements (for details the investigators refer to the published study protocol).

European Transplant Registry of Senior Renal Transplant Recipients on Advagraf

SENIOR transplant Registry European transplant registry of senior renal transplant recipients (above the age of 65 years) receiving initial immunosuppression with tacrolimus once daily, mycophenolate and steroids to investigate long term outcomes on an observational basis.