10 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The overall hypothesis of this study is that a cardiac rehabilitation program with meditation will be more effective than cardiac rehabilitation alone in improving blood flow through the diseased coronary arteries in African Americans. For this purpose, 56 African American men and women with coronary heart disease will be randomly assigned either to standard cardiac rehabilitation plus the Transcendental Meditation program or to standard cardiac rehabilitation alone. The treatment period will be 12 weeks in length.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether Ateronon, a nutritional supplement that contains lycopene from tomatoes has a favorable effect on carotid atherosclerosis, lipid levels, and other biomarkers of coronary heart disease. The trial was stopped early due to insufficient financial support from the initial study collaborator, Cambridge Theranostics Ltd. Collected patient data are sufficient for final trial-based analyses to be conducted with financial support from the new study collaborator, CamNutra Ltd. The data will still be analyzed according to the original study aims.
This was a double-blind randomized trial comparing 1200 mg per day of gemfibrozil with placebo in 2531 men with coronary heart disease, an HDL-C of 40mg/dl or less, an LDL-C of 140 mg/dl or less, and triglycerides of 300mg/dl or less. The primary outcome was nonfatal myocardial infarction(MI) or death from coronary causes. The median follow-up was 5.1 years. There was a risk reduction of 22% in the primary outcome (p=.0006) and 24% risk reduction in the combined endpoint of stroke, MI, and CHD death. The rate of events was reduced by raising HDL-C and lowering triglycerides without lowering LDL-C (N Engl J Med 1999;341:410-418).
The purpose of this study is to develop a tai-chi based exercise program designed for patients who recently had a heart attack and do not wish, or are unable, to attend traditional cardiac rehabilitation.
This randomized controlled clinical trial tests the hypothesis that a selected stress reduction approach, the Transcendental Meditation program will reduce all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction and stroke in African American patients with coronary heart disease. Secondary hypotheses include effects on other cardiovascular clinical events, blood pressure and psychosocial stress.
Despite immediate symptomatic success after coronary bypass surgery in patients with coronary artery disease, this effect is not sustained over time since risk factors for coronary artery disease are still in place. The role of secondary prevention becomes increasingly important as it can potentially decrease or eliminate the need for another intervention in these high risk subjects. This project seeks to evaluate the effect of emphasizing secondary prevention measures in this patient population during hospital admission and through six months post-discharge.
Unplanned readmissions after hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are among the leading causes of preventable morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Digital health interventions (DHI) could be an effective tool in promoting self-management, adherence to guideline directed therapy, and cardiovascular risk reduction. A DHI developed at Johns Hopkins-the Corrie Health Digital Platform-includes the first cardiology Apple CareKit smartphone application, paired with an Apple Watch and iHealth Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure monitor. Corrie targets: (1) self-management of cardiac medications, (2) self-tracking of vital signs, (3) education about cardiovascular disease through articles and animated videos, and (4) care coordination that includes cardiac rehabilitation and outpatient follow-up appointments. In this prospective study, STEMI or type 1 NSTEMI patients are being enrolled to use the Corrie Health Digital Platform beginning early during participants' hospital stay. Enrollment sites include Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Reading Hospital. The primary objective is to compare time to first readmission within 30 days post-discharge among patients with the Corrie Health Digital Platform to patients in the historical standard of care comparison group.
Saphenous vein graft disease remains an unresolved medical problem. Many vein grafts occlude in the first year after bypass surgery, leading to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including recurrent angina, myocardial infarction, and the need for repeat coronary intervention. While aspirin is the standard antiplatelet treatment after CABG surgery, 10-20% of vein grafts continue to occlude despite contemporary secondary preventative therapy. Compared to aspirin and other antiplatelet therapies like clopidogrel, ticagrelor treatment leads to a more pronounced platelet inhibition, and may substantially improve graft patency following CABG compared to aspirin. No data has yet to be collected regarding the impact of ticagrelor on saphenous vein graft patency following CABG. In this context, the investigators seek to compare vein graft patency between patients randomized to receive aspirin therapy, the current standard of care, or ticagrelor treatment, starting in the early postoperative period, and continuing for 2 years after CABG.
Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an exercise-based lifestyle program for patients who have experienced a myocardial infarction, systolic heart failure, percutaneous revascularization or cardiac surgery. CR plays a key role in secondary prevention, which is the prevention of subsequent cardiac events. CR has been shown to reduce both cardiovascular mortality and one year hospital readmissions as well as improve quality of life, exercise capacity, and physical function. Although the benefits have been clearly established for cardiac patients, women are much less likely to attend CR than men. Based upon our own preliminary data (and the medical literature), attendance at CR is determined by factors that vary in their importance between men and women. These findings demonstrate that older age and poor social support are particular barriers to CR participation in women. This information can guide efforts to increase CR participation and adherence in women, areas which have received little study. Case management (CM) has been effective at reducing cardiovascular risk and reducing hospitalizations amongst cardiac patients. Further, CM has been effective at promoting attendance in a variety of health related programs (for example, diabetes treatment or cocaine dependence treatment). The primary aim in this randomized controlled trial is to examine the efficacy of early CM to promote participation and adherence in CR. The CM model can identify individualized determinants of health and social needs to identify potential barriers which may hinder CR enrollment. Additionally, the case manager will conduct a home visit and provide individual counseling to address lifestyle changes including physical activity. Thus, a component of CR and physical activity can be still be delivered for those unable to attend CR. The concept of CM to improve CR participation and adherence has not been specifically tested in women, a vulnerable patient population. This intervention, therefore, has the potential to increase utilization of CR and significantly improve health outcomes in female cardiac patients.
The long-term goal of this research is to improve patient-centered outcomes in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), the leading cause of death in the world. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs decrease mortality and improve quality of life in patients with CHD. Published guidelines recommend exercise-based CR following hospitalization for myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, or percutaneous coronary revascularization. Despite these compelling benefits, CR programs are vastly underutilized, with less than a third of eligible patients participating. One promising solution is greater implementation of home-based CR. Both home and center-based CR programs have equal benefits on cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life. However, similar efficacy does not necessarily translate into similar effectiveness. If patients are more likely to participate in home- vs. center-based therapy, then greater participation could lead to greater clinical effectiveness. We are therefore conducting a quasi-experimental, controlled trial at two VA medical centers to determine the comparative effectiveness of referral to home- vs. center-based CR in patients with CHD. Aim 1: Determine whether automatic referral to home- vs. center-based CR increases patient participation in CR after hospitalization for myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization. Aim 2: Among patients who choose to participate in CR, compare the effectiveness of home- vs. center-based CR on six-minute walk distance, quality of life, and healthcare expenditures. Aim 3: Determine whether the effects of home vs. center-based CR differ by age, gender, race, ethnicity, employment, socioeconomic status, social support, comorbid conditions, or patient preference. Results from this study will (a) help policy makers determine the effect of covering home CR on healthcare expenditures in patients with CHD; (b) help providers understand the potential benefits and harms of home- vs. center-based CR; and (c) help patients answer questions like, "Given my personal circumstances and preferences, which of these options will improve the outcomes most important to me".