Leipzig Exercise Intervention in Chronic Heart Failure and Aging

Overview

In both ageing and heart failure progressive exercise intolerance is observed. The Leipzig Exercise Intervention in Chronic heart failure and Aging (LEICA) study aims to investigate how aerobic short-term training interventions affect exercise capacity, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, biomarkers of heart failure, skeletal muscle metabolism, and endothelial function in chronis heart failure patients (CHF-patients) and healthy subjects (HS) in two different age strata: Above 65 years and below 55 years. Aim of the trial is therefore to compare the effects of aerobic exercise training in young and old healthy subjects as well as in young and old heart failure patients. To our knowledge this study is the first to prospectively investigate age differences of training responses in both CHF patients and age-matched healthy controls. Because of the extensive clinical and molecular assessment the results of this trial will be made public in predefined substudies: * LEICA-Echo * LEICA-Biomarkers * LEICA-Endothelium * LEICA-Cardiopulmonary Exercise Function * LEICA-Muscle

A total of 60 healthy subjects and 60 heart failure patients (in each group 30 \<55 years, 30 \>65 years) are prospectively randomized to either 4 weeks of aerobic ergometer training or control group. Before and after the intervention period maximal exercise tolerance is determined by ergospirometry, endothelial function is measured by high-resolution A-mode ultrasound, left ventricular function by echocardiography including tissue Doppler imaging, and thigh muscle mass is assessed by CT. Skeletal muscle biopsies are obtained at both time-points and are analysed for inflammatory cytokines and markers of catabolism/anabolism.

Conditions