Heart failure (HF) is a complex condition resulting from structural or functional heart diseases that impair the ability of the heart to fill with or pump out blood. The main manifestations of HF are shortness of breath and tiredness which may limit the ability to exercise or perform simple daily physical activities such as walking. Heart disease leading to HF is associated with reduced muscle mass and reduced strength and low blood levels of testosterone; a hormone normally produced by the human (male and female) body. Recent studies have shown improvements of symptoms and ability to exercise in patients with heart failure receiving testosterone. This is a placebo controlled study to determine the efficacy and safety of low dose testosterone (300 and 450 microgram/day) delivered by a transdermal system (patch) in women with significant HF.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
17
placebo patch
300 or 450 micrograms/day transdermal testosterone patch
Research Site
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Research Site
Tucson, Arizona, United States
Research Site
Lakewood, California, United States
Research Site
Riverside, California, United States
Research Site
Stamford, Connecticut, United States
Research Site
Melbourne, Florida, United States
Research Site
Pensacola, Florida, United States
Research Site
Savannah, Georgia, United States
Research Site
Munster, Indiana, United States
Research Site
Brooklyn, New York, United States
...and 6 more locations
Percent Change From Baseline in Six Minute Walking Test (6MWT), Meters
Measurement of distance walked as fast as possible on a hard flat pathway in six minutes
Time frame: Baseline and Day 180
Percent Change From Baseline in Severity of Heart Failure (HF) as Measured by New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classification
Class I: Cardiac disease w/o limitation of physical activity. Class II: Cardiac disease resulting in slight limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest; ordinary activity results in fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea or anginal pain. Class III: Cardiac disease resulting in marked limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest; less than ordinary activity causes fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea or anginal pain. Class IV: Cardiac disease resulting in inability to carry on any physical activity w/o discomfort. Symptoms present at rest. Any physical activity increases discomfort.
Time frame: Baseline and Day 180
Mortality or Hospitalizations
Composite endpoint - patients who were hospitalized or died during the trial.
Time frame: Baseline and Day 180
Percent Change Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) Overall Score and Domain Scores
Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire assessing how much heart failure affects life during previous month. Three scales measuring physical dimension (8 items, score 0-40), emotional dimension (5 items, score 0-25) and overall score (all 21 items, score 0-105). Eight separate items measure social \& economic impairments included as part of overall score.
Time frame: Baseline and Day 180
Percent Change Patient Global Assessment of Heart Failure Status
Four global questions classifying improvement or deterioration in heart failure - Since your last clinic vist, has there been any change in activity limitation / symptoms / emotions / overall quality of life, related to your heart failure? Scale -7/very great deal worse, -6 great deal worse, -5 good deal worse, -4 moderately worse, -3 somewhat worse, -2 a little worse, -1 hardly any worse/almost the same, 0 no change, 1 hardly better/almost the same, 2 little better, 3 somewhat better, 4 moderately better, 5 good deal better, 6 great deal better, 7 very great deal better.
Time frame: Baseline and Day 180
Percent Change Physician Global Assessment of Heart Failure Status
Physician rates improvement or deterioration in heart failure: Scale -7/very great deal worse, -6 great deal worse, -5 good deal worse, -4 moderately worse, -3 somewhat worse, -2 a little worse, -1 hardly any worse/almost the same, 0 no change, 1 hardly better/almost the same, 2 little better, 3 somewhat better, 4 moderately better, 5 good deal better, 6 great deal better, 7 very great deal better.
Time frame: Baseline and Day 180
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