This project is an observational study in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) who are candidates for treatment with weight loss medication to manage obesity or diabetes as part of their standard clinical care. This study will include multiple experimental visits before and after treatment (minimum 7 percent weight loss, between 9-12 months) to understand how increased adiposity and inflammation effects skeletal muscle and cardiovascular health and function and to examine the effect of medically directed weight loss on skeletal muscle health and exercise tolerance. The objective of this study is to 1. Define the mechanisms by which adiposity impairs exercise hemodynamics, microvascular function, and oxygen transport/utilization in patients with HFpEF. 2. Determine if intensive medically directed weight loss can reduce microvascular inflammation and normalize exercise hemodynamics. 3. Quantify the effect of medically directed weight loss on skeletal muscle function and catabolism. Hypotheses 1. Perfusion of subcutaneous adipose tissue disrupts blood flow distribution and impairs muscle microvascular perfusion and exercise hemodynamics. 2. Extramyocellular muscular lipid deposition and microvascular endothelial inflammation is associated with reduced capillarity and impaired microvascular perfusions, while intramyocellular triglyceride content is associated with poor skeletal muscle oxidative capacity, 3. Intensive weight loss will improve exercise hemodynamics, microvascular perfusion, and reduce muscular inflammation, and resistance training will augment these effects.
Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFPEF)
This project is an observational study in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) who are candidates for treatment with weight loss medication to manage obesity or diabetes as part of their standard clinical care. This study will include multiple experimental visits before and after treatment (minimum 7 percent weight loss, between 9-12 months) to understand how increased adiposity and inflammation effects skeletal muscle and cardiovascular health and function and to examine the effect of medically directed weight loss on skeletal muscle health and exercise tolerance. The objective of this study is to 1. Define the mechanisms by which adiposity impairs exercise hemodynamics, microvascular function, and oxygen transport/utilization in patients with HFpEF. 2. Determine if intensive medically directed weight loss can reduce microvascular inflammation and normalize exercise hemodynamics. 3. Quantify the effect of medically directed weight loss on skeletal muscle function and catabolism. Hypotheses 1. Perfusion of subcutaneous adipose tissue disrupts blood flow distribution and impairs muscle microvascular perfusion and exercise hemodynamics. 2. Extramyocellular muscular lipid deposition and microvascular endothelial inflammation is associated with reduced capillarity and impaired microvascular perfusions, while intramyocellular triglyceride content is associated with poor skeletal muscle oxidative capacity, 3. Intensive weight loss will improve exercise hemodynamics, microvascular perfusion, and reduce muscular inflammation, and resistance training will augment these effects.
The Effect of Adiposity on Muscle and Microvascular Function in HFpEF
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University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States, 75390
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.
For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.
18 Years to
ALL
Yes
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center,
Christopher M Hearon Jr, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
2026-06-01