title: Multidisciplinary rehabilitation program in recently hospitalized patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) comprises a large portion of heart failure patients and portends poor prognosis with similar outcome to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Thus far, no medical therapy has been shown to improve clinical outcome in this common condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is a randomized-controlled, multicenter clinical trial aimed to determine whether early posthospitalization comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) including exercise training (ET) in recently hospitalized HFpEF patients reduces the composite end point of all-cause mortality and hospitalizations in comparison with usual care (UC). After undergoing baseline evaluation, patients are randomized to either UC or to ambulatory comprehensive CR program. Patients in the CR arm will participate in a 6-month biweekly ET program according to a predefined protocol, in addition to a complementary home exercise prescribed by a specialist in CR. Exercise training will include endurance and low-intensity resistance training. Patients in the UC arm will be followed up at the outpatient clinic, with management according to current heart failure guidelines. Physician follow-up visits will be conducted at 3, 6, and 12 months for assessment of adherence to therapy and ET, functional status, quality of life, and clinical events. Secondary end points will include quality-of-life questionnaire, economic end points, blood pressure, and hemoglobin A1C levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiac rehabilitation and ET are relatively inexpensive and accessible and can be beneficial in HFpEF patients. Our trial is designed to evaluate the impact of early posthospitalization comprehensive rehabilitation program on clinical end points of mortality, hospitalization, and quality of life in HFpEF patients.
authors.affiliation: Leviev Heart Center, Tel Hashomer¸ Israel; Neufeld Cardiac Research Institute, Tel Hashomer¸ Israel; Sackelr Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: eddiekoman@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koifman
authors.affiliation: Sackelr Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Internal Medicine D and Hypertension Unit, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer¸ Israel.
authors.forename: Ehud
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.affiliation: Sackelr Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Internal Medicine C, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: Avishay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elis
authors.affiliation: Sackelr Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Internal Medicine D and Obesity Clinic, Hasharon Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: Dror
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dicker
authors.affiliation: Sackelr Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Cardiology department, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Bella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koifman
authors.affiliation: Sackelr Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Cardiology division, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.
authors.forename: Morris
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mosseri
authors.affiliation: Leviev Heart Center, Tel Hashomer¸ Israel; Neufeld Cardiac Research Institute, Tel Hashomer¸ Israel; Sackelr Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuperstein
authors.affiliation: Leviev Heart Center, Tel Hashomer¸ Israel; Neufeld Cardiac Research Institute, Tel Hashomer¸ Israel; Sackelr Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
authors.affiliation: Leviev Heart Center, Tel Hashomer¸ Israel.
authors.forename: Tamir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamerman
authors.affiliation: Neufeld Cardiac Research Institute, Tel Hashomer¸ Israel; Sackelr Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Nava
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Levine-Tiefenbrun
authors.affiliation: Leviev Heart Center, Tel Hashomer¸ Israel; Neufeld Cardiac Research Institute, Tel Hashomer¸ Israel; Sackelr Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klempfner
mesh_terms: D019468:Disease Management; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011788:Quality of Life; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016896:Treatment Outcome