Examining the Cognitive Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation in People With Heart Failure (The CHF CaRe Study)

Over 5 million people in the United States have heart failure, and 500,000 more develop this
condition each year. Up to 80% of people with heart failure experience cognitive functioning
difficulties, including problems with memory, attention, and other thinking skills. People
with heart failure often participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program, which is an
individualized program that aims to improve a person's physical and mental health while
dealing with a heart-related condition. Cardiac rehabilitation is different for each person,
but it can include medical counseling on how to manage a heart condition and how to modify
risk factors for further heart problems, including lowering blood pressure and cholesterol
levels, stopping smoking, and losing weight. Nutritional counseling and an exercise program
may also be a part of cardiac rehabilitation. Preliminary research has shown that people
with heart failure who participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program may experience
improved cognitive function. This is thought to be a result of increased blood flow to the
brain and improved autonomic nervous system function, which is responsible for regulating
various body functions. In this study, researchers will explore the relationship between
heart failure and cognitive function, examine how cognitive function changes over time in
heart failure patients, and evaluate how cardiac rehabilitation may affect cognitive
function in older adults. Specifically, researchers will examine how physical activity and
patterns of blood flow affect cognitive function.

This study will enroll people with heart failure who are participating in a 12-week cardiac
rehabilitation program and people with heart failure who are not participating in a cardiac
rehabilitation program. All participants will attend study visits at baseline, Week 12, and
Month 12. At each study visit, participants will undergo neuropsychological testing, heart
rate and blood pressure measurements, and a walking exercise test. They will also complete
questionnaires to assess diet, physical activity, and stress levels. Participants will
undergo an imaging procedure to measure blood flow in the neck and head, and some
participants will also undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure of their brain.
For 1 week after each study visit, participants will wear a physical activity monitor. At
Months 6 and 9, participants will complete questionnaires and mail these back to study
researchers.

The study completion date listed in this record was obtained from the "Completed Date"
entered in the Query View Report System (QVR).

Inclusion Criteria:

- Systolic heart failure confirmed by perfusion stress scan

Exclusion Criteria:

- Has a pacemaker