Heart Failure and Obesity: Effects of Weight Loss (HOW)

ISRCTN ISRCTN78790185
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN78790185
Secondary identifying numbers N0544174250
Submission date
29/09/2006
Registration date
29/09/2006
Last edited
21/07/2010
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Prof Nicholas Finer
Scientific

University College London Hospitals
Division of Bariatric Medicine and Surgery
3rd Floor Central Wing
250 Euston Road
London
NW1 2PQ
United Kingdom

Phone +44 0845 1555000 ext 4962
Email n.finer@ucl.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Not specified
Study typeTreatment
Scientific title
Study objectivesWhat is the effect of weight loss and weight loss maintenance on heart function (cardiac reserve) in obese heart failure patients? We aim to investigate heart function and cardiac reserve (the ability of the heart to respond to exercise) before and after therapeutic weight loss in obese patients with mild to moderate heart failure.
Ethics approval(s)Not provided at time of registration
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedNutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine: Obesity
InterventionThis is a randomised controlled study of intensive diet with weight loss against non-intervention in obese patients with heart failure. The non-intervention group is included to provide information on the background progression or regression of heart failure without weight loss and in the situation where it is not possible to provide a placebo weight loss diet. Patients will be informed that they may be randomised to this control group and will not be receiving a therapeutic intervention. Since the study is designed to assess the benefit (or harm) of weight loss, it is ethically appropriate for such a non-intervention control group. Since it seems unlikely that there will be significant changes in cardiac function in the non-intervention group over the study period of 16 weeks, randomisation will be 3:1.

The main study has been powered on the basis of published data. The power calculations are estimated on the basis of the difference in peak vO2 measurements. Assuming a peak oxygen utilisation (VO2) during exercise of 19 (SD 3.9) ml/kg/min 24 subjects will be required to detect a 10% improvement in peak VO2 after weight loss with a p value of <0.05, power 85%). A pilot study in 6 patients (non-randomised, and receiving the intensive diet intervention) will be undertaken before the main study and will be used to provide information to confirm (or alter) the power calculations.

Obese patients with heart failure will be recruited from the cardiology clinic at Addenbrooke’s hospital. Subjects will be given information leaflets about the study so that they can read and discuss them at home prior to giving consent at a later date (>48 hours). After an initial screening visit, at which patients will give informed consent, measurements will be made of peak VO2, blood parameters, and heart function. Based on these results, patients will be informed whether or not they meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria. If they do, at the subsequent visit (measurement baseline) they will be randomised to the active intervention or control group. They will be randomised to either intensive dietary intervention (intervention group) or observation (control group). Both groups will therefore attend one screening visit, and 3 measurement visits (week 0, 6 and 16). The active intervention group will also attend for weekly and then two-weekly interim visits so that their diet can be monitored and managed. The control group will make only one interim visit at week 10.

Subjects will attend the Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at Addenbrooke’s Hospital Centre for Clinical Investigation (ACCI) at 9am on the study day. Subjects will stay overnight (i.e. for 36 hours) and all measurements listed will be performed during the stay in the CRF. These are: peak VO2 during supervised exercise on a treadmill, measurements of left ventricular function by either echocardiography or MRI, heart rate variability using standard electronic recording devices, body composition using standard techniques, plasma BNP levels and other blood measures, quality of life measurement by standard questionnaire, and spontaneous physical activity using a commercially available recording device.

A low calorie liquid diet will be provided to the intervention group. This dietary regimen is routinely used to achieve initial weight loss by specialists at weight loss management clinics worldwide and also in the Obesity Clinic at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Patients will continue this diet for 6 weeks with regular weekly interim follow up. This will be followed by weight loss maintenance diet, the energy value of which will be calculated from standard equation relating height, weight and age to basal metabolic rate.

This study design will allow us to separate effects from acute weight loss and a stable lowered body weight.

The study has been designed with consultation and involvement of experts in obesity, cardiology, and nutrition. The diet intervention is informed by many years experience, including patient feedback and audit, from the setting of an NHS obesity clinic and other clinical trials. For this reason patient involvement in the design of this study was deemed unnecessary.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measurePeak oxygen consumption during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (Peak VO2) following acute weight loss (week 6) and weight loss maintenance phase(16 weeks)
Secondary outcome measuresNot provided at time of registration
Overall study start date01/03/2006
Completion date28/02/2008

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexNot Specified
Target number of participants38
Key inclusion criteria38 patients. Pilot study: 6 patients will be recruited for active dietary intervention. Main study: 24 patients will be recruited for the active dietary intervention and 8 patients for the control.
Inclusion criteria:
1. Obese patients defined at body mass index (BMI) of above 30 and <40 kg/m2 (excessive body weight will preclude exercise and accurate imaging)
2. Stable heart failure patients of NHYA (New York Heart Association) class II or III (patients must be able to undertake exercise testing). Diagnosis of heart failure will be based on standard criteria of symptoms of more than 6 months with confirmed LVEF impairment on echocardiogram
3. Age above 25 and below 70 years (to ensure patients can participate with the exercise etc)
Key exclusion criteria1. Unable to give informed consent
2. Subjects with renal impairment defined by creatinine >170 Μmol/l (inappropriate to include patients with more complex
illness in this study).
3. Patients with Diabetes Mellitus on antidiabetic medication (other
than metformin - diet and weight loss would require alteration of insulin or non-metformin diabetes treatment, complicating assessments)
4. Heart failure patients of NHYA (New York Heart Association) class <II or >III (patients must be able to undertake exercise testing)
Date of first enrolment01/03/2006
Date of final enrolment28/02/2008

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

University College London Hospitals
London
NW1 2PQ
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Record Provided by the NHSTCT Register - 2006 Update - Department of Health
Government

The Department of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NL
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 7307 2622
Email dhmail@doh.gsi.org.uk
Website http://www.dh.gov.uk/Home/fs/en

Funders

Funder type

Government

Cambridge Consortium - Addenbrooke's (UK) Own Account

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Poster results abstract: Effects of Rapid Weight Loss and Short-Term Weight Loss Maintenance in Obese Patients with Cardiovascular Risks and/or Heart Failure: a Pilot Study. Myint, KS; Northcott, S; Heck, P; Wright, A;Murgatroyd, P; Dutka, D; Brown, M;Ashby, M; Dhatariya, K; Finer, N. Obesity 16, S155. As part of poster session published 06/09/2012 No No