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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03016754

Heart Failure Optimization Study

This study is designed as a multi-center prospective observational study of newly diagnosed Heart Failure (HF) patients to test the hypothesis that additional Ejection Fraction (EF) recovery occurs between 90 and 180 days as Guideline Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) is achieved. Although the study doesn't start until day 90, all eligible, consenting patients will be entered into a registry at the start of wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) use. The pre-study registry will allow us to collect early (90 day) outcomes and data in those patients who are likely to be eligible for the study at day 90, or are eligible, but refuse the study at day 90.

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Key information

Conditions

Sudden Cardiac Death Cardiovascular Diseases Death Death, Sudden Death, Sudden, Cardiac Heart Arrest Heart Diseases Heart Failure Heart Failure Low Output Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Ordensklinikum Linz GmbH/Elisabethinen, Linz, Austria

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About this study

This study will be conducted at thirty to sixty sites, initially in US and Europe. It will be used to observe the rate of recovery of ventricular function (EF>35%) between 90 and 180 days in newly diagnosed HF patients who were prescribed the WCD ≤ 10 days post-discharge after hospitalization for a primary reason of new onset HF (≤30 days since first HF hospitalization), with ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, and have already used a WCD for 90 ± 14 days. For the first 90 days of WCD use, patients will be enrolled in a pre-study registry. The FDA-approved WCD will be prescribed for up to 6 months of use after hospital discharge, with the option for longer use under physician discretion. Approximately 870 subjects will enroll into the pre-study registry and 750 subjects into the study.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Phase 1 (Registry phase)

  • Patients (≥18 years old) who were prescribed the WCD ≤ 10 days post-discharge after hospitalization for a primary reason of new onset HF (≤30 days since first HF hospitalization), with ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy, and have used the WCD for no more than 30 days.
  • Patients who had an EF ≤ 35% during index hospitalization (must be last measurement if performed multiple times).

Phase 2 (Study phase)

  • Patients who completed Phase 1 and used a WCD for 90 ± 14 days.

Exclusion criteria

(both phases):

  • Patients under 18 years old.
  • Patients who have an active unipolar pacemaker.
  • Patients with a physical or mental condition that could impair their ability to properly interact with the device.
  • Patients currently participating in another clinical study.
  • Patients with any skin condition that would prevent wearing the device.
  • Patients with an advanced directive prohibiting resuscitation.

Exclusion criteria

(Phase 2)

  • Patients who have a QRS duration of ≥135 ms and are planned for cardiac resynchronization therapy.
  • Patients with recent myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization (since start of WCD wear; i.e. 0-90 days of WCD wear).

Treatment and study plan

Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator

Device

LifeVest is the brand of Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator used in this study.

Other names: LifeVest

Primary outcomes

  1. Percentage of Patients With LVEF Recovery at Day 90 and 180

    Time frame: 180 days

    The percentage of patients reaching the goal of LVEF>35% will be compared at 90 days and 180 days. Echocardiographic assessment of LVEF was used.

  2. Percentage of Study Subjects Reaching Target Doses of Guideline Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT)

    Time frame: 180 days

    Descriptive statistics will be used to assess the percentage of study subjects reaching target doses of GDMT at 90 and 180 days. All eligible study subjects with LVEF data at all three timepoints were used for this analysis.

Secondary outcomes

  1. All Subjects With Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)/Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) Arrhythmias During WCD Use

    Time frame: 360 days

    Observe the percentage of patients having sustained VT/VF arrhythmias during WCD use. As this was a secondary outcome to describe events during all WCD use, all eligible registry subjects were used for this analysis. Participants were not split into groups for secondary analyses, only for reporting results of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery in the primary outcomes.

  2. All Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)/Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) Arrhythmias Events During WCD Use

    Time frame: 360 days

    Observe the occurrence of all sustained VT/VF arrhythmias during WCD use by event. As this was a secondary outcome to describe events during all WCD use, all eligible registry subjects were used for this analysis. Participants were not split into groups for secondary analyses, only for reporting results of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery in the primary outcomes.

  3. Percentage of All Patients Having Other Arrhythmias

    Time frame: 180 days

    Observe the percentage of patients having other arrhythmias during WCD use, such as asystole and supra-ventricular arrhythmias that are recorded by the device. As this was a secondary outcome to describe events during all WCD use, all eligible registry subjects were used for this analysis. Participants were not split into groups for secondary analyses, only for reporting results of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery in the primary outcomes.

  4. Efficacy in Treating Ventricular Arrhythmias

    Time frame: 180 days

    Observe the effectiveness of the wearable cardioverter defibrillator worn by this population in treating ventricular arrhythmias. As this was a secondary outcome to describe events during all WCD use, all eligible registry subjects were used for this analysis. Participants were not split into groups for secondary analyses, only for reporting results of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery in the primary outcomes.

  5. Mortality Analysis

    Time frame: 0 to180, 0 to 270, and 0 to 360 days, or >360 days (up to 14 months)

    Evaluate the effect of wearable defibrillators on 180, 270, and 360-day mortality following discharge in HF patients. Cumulative assessment of survival will be made at these time points for those entered into the study (e.g. up to 180, 270, 360 days, or >360 days (up to 14 months)). A mortality review will be conducted by independent adjudicators to group all deaths as cardiac or non-cardiac, and sudden or non-sudden. All eligible study subjects were used for this analysis. Participants were not split into groups for secondary analyses, only for reporting results of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery in the primary outcomes. Data collected on deaths after the prespecified final timepoint (n=3) will be labeled >360 days (up to 14 months). 1 subject completed the study immediately prior to the reported death, hence the different number from the participant flow.

  6. Healthcare utilization_type

    Time frame: 360 days

    Healthcare utilization (emergency room visits, hospitalizations, doctor visits etc.) on all patients during the period of the study. All eligible study subjects were used for this analysis. Participants were not split into groups for secondary analyses, only for reporting results of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery in the primary outcomes.

  7. Healthcare utilization_length of Use

    Time frame: 360 days

    Length of stay for any hospitalization, observation, skilled nursing facility stays. All eligible study subjects reporting one of these stays were used for this analysis, and grouped by type of stay. Participants were not split into groups for secondary analyses, only for reporting results of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery in the primary outcomes.

Other outcomes

  1. Complications From Extended Use

    Time frame: 360 days

    The safety objectives will be to compare complications from extended use of the WCD with those of the ICD during the study phase timeframe. All eligible study subjects were used for this safety analysis. Participants were not split into groups for secondary analyses, only for reporting results of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery in the primary outcomes.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Zoll Medical Corporation

Industry

Registry information

Acronym: HF-Opt

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Jan 11, 2017
Registry last updated
Mar 24, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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