Exercise for people with heart failure
Funding
BNSSCG CCG Research Capability Funding (Local development)
What is the research question?
How can people with heart failure be supported to maximise their participation in exercise?
What is the problem?
Heart failure (HF) is a common condition affecting one to two in every hundred adults in the United Kingdom and one in six people aged over 85 years. People with HF can experience symptoms of breathlessness, tiredness and leg swelling, have a reduced quality of life, and may require hospital admission. Most people with HF are community dwelling older people with multiple co-morbidities who are under-represented in research studies. In patients with symptomatic chronic HF, physical inactivity is associated with nearly twice all‐cause and cardiac mortality, and even modest exercise was associated with survival benefit. Exercise is now a well-established therapy for HF patients but feedback from patients and health professionals show that there is uncertainty about how people with heart failure should approach exercise.
What is the aim of the research?
The study proposes to establish a heart failure PPI group and to review exercise interventions with a focus on patient related outcomes. A summary report will be produced using real-life examples, which will identify evidence gaps and research recommendations.
How will this be achieved?
The study proposes to:
- Convene a PPI group of people and carers, and a wider stakeholder group (health, social and third sector)
- Scope out supportive strategies for exercise currently used, known about, or needed
- Undertake data and evidence collection via systematic review of exercise interventions.
- Compare findings and evidence gaps and disseminate.
Who is leading the research?
Dr Alyson Huntley, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol.
Further information:
For more information or to get involved in this project, please contact bnssg.research@nhs.net.