Heart Failure Clinical Trials
Under the direction of Javed Butler, MD, MPH, Director of Heart Failure Research, the Emory Centers for Heart Failure Therapy are involved in a number of clinical trials and registries in which heart failure faculty members participate, either as principal investigators or co-principal investigators. The trials vary from single center trials on drug and device therapy to multi-center National Institutes of Health sponsored studies such as Tele-HF remote monitoring, ventricular assist device studies and cardiac rehabilitation treatment strategies.
Our Heart Failure team continuously seeks and explores new medical treatments, therapies, and interventions that will provide the best care to our patients and improve their overall quality of life. One method of accomplishing this is by our participation in clinical trials. As a result, we have gained valuable knowledge and insight regarding better treatment modalities for our patients.
The information below will inform you of some of the clinical trials and/or heart failure registries that we are actively enrolling:
The Atlanta Cardiomyopathy Consortium (TACC)
A heart failure registry and bio-bank sponsored by Emory University. The purpose of this study is to follow a large number of heart failure patients over a 5-year period to better understand the natural history of this clinical syndrome. Patients will not have their medical care changed in any way, nor will they have to make any additional clinic visits. Patients will be seen two times during the 1st year and receive a telephone follow-up visit annually up to five years.
Criteria: Diagnosis of heart failure; Male or female > 18 years of age
Proposed dates*: Thru 12/31/10
Caregiver Stress: Interventions to Promote Health and Wellbeing
More and more family members are providing care to their loved ones with prolonged and progressive illnesses. Chronic intense caregiving represents a situation of chronic stress, which takes a toll on one's mental and physical health including an increased risk for the development or worsening of heart disease. Identification of effective self-care interventions for family caregivers is warranted to improve their emotional wellbeing and minimize the harmful effects of chronic stress on the heart. This Program Project Grant aims to promote health and reduce cardiovascular risk in family caregivers (FCG) of persons with chronic illness. In two studies the investigators will test two interventions, psycho-education(ED) and physical exercise (EX), individually and in combination. The first study will target FCG of African American dementia patients; the second will focus on FCG of heart failure patients. These collective efforts will generate important data whereby future care can significantly enhance the lives of FCG and minimize their risk of cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of disability and death in the United States.
Criteria: Over 21 years old, Caregiver who lives in the same house as a heart failure patient, able to engage in low impact activity
Proposed Dates*: Thru 11/30/2012
RED-HF
A heart failure clinical trial sponsored by Amgen, Inc. that evaluates the effectiveness of an approved drug called darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp® ) compared to placebo (an inactive substance) for the treatment of low red blood cell count (anemia) associated with chronic heart failure. This study will evaluate if the study drug lowers the risk of hospital admission or death due to worsening heart failure.
Criteria: Diagnosis of heart failure > 3 months; Hemoglobin > 9.0g/dL and < 12.0 g/dL
*Subject to change
Please note that there are additional screening criteria for a patient to be enrolled in any of these trials/registries. They will be assessed in more detailed upon a patient’s desire to potentially be enrolled.
Clinical Research Nurses/Coordinators:
Gail L. Snell, RN: 404-712-0531
Laronica McPherson, RN: 404-778-3846
Staci Jennings, CRC: 404-686-6185
