The investigators Research Question and Hypothesis is as follows:
Comprehensive, evidence-based lifestyle and psychosocial interventions over a 12-week period (Lifestyles Change Program) can improve various objectives (6-minute walk distance, Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF), New York Heart Association Class, grip strength, and cognitive function) as well as subjective (Quality of life, depression and functional screening) measures in patients with chronic heart failure. Secondary endpoints would include data such as hospital admission rates and all-cause mortality.
Background/ Gaps in Knowledge Chronic heart failure continues to be one of the highest economic burdens in the United States, heavily influenced by frequent readmissions. As a measure of performance quality, the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began publically reporting hospital risk-standardized 30-day all-cause readmission rates, among fee-for-service beneficiaries discharged after hospitalization for heart failure from all the US acute care hospitals (1). Previous reported averages for hospital readmission in patients with chronic heart failure averages 25% to 30%, with some studies showing a readmission rate of up to 45% at 6 months.
There has been significant research examining various methods to reduce hospital admissions and improve functional capacity for patients with heart failure. Aside from published data on patient factors associated with readmission (age, sex, race, education, diabetes, renal disease, history of stroke, cognitive impairment, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class level, and serum markers \[blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, C-reactive protein\], etc), there have been many prospective studies evaluating readmission rates in CHF using interventions including: specialized multi-disciplinary teams (CHF nursing staff, pharmacists, physicians, etc), telephonic home monitoring, implantable device monitoring, various exercise programs (intermittent vs. continuous), meditation and spirituality, and early hospital follow-up.
Attempts at creating valid statistical models to predict patients at the highest risk for readmission used heterogeneous approaches and found substantial inconsistencies regarding which patient characteristics were predictive. From a policy perspective, as of 2009, a validated risk-standardized model to accurately profile hospitals using readmission rates is unavailable in the published English-language literature to date (3). Essentially, the identification of patients at high risk for heart failure readmission remains difficult with no validated objective assessment. Therefore, the strategy to reduce readmissions of heart failure patients is evolving to become a more personalized, patient-centered approach based on specific needs of each patient. For example, studies evaluating patient vs physician and healthcare staff perceptions for the causes of heart failure readmissions (using standardized questionnaires), shows discrepancy in the physician's opinion vs the patient's opinion about what factors influenced the readmission.
In essence, various aspects of the LCP have been evaluated in controlled clinical trials, but an overall, comprehensive study evaluating multiple components as included in the LCP has (to the investigators knowledge) not been done. Previous randomized controlled trials have shown benefit (6-minute walk, NYHA class, etc) using cardiac rehabilitation in patients with CHF (12). Yoga has been shown to improve exercise tolerance and positively affected levels of inflammatory markers in patients with CHF, with trends towards improvements in QoL (11). Education by a dietitian in patients with CHF has also been shown to result in a significant decrease in sodium intake compared with patients who simply receive written instructions (9). Studies have also evaluated spiritual well-being and depression in patients with heart failure, and have shown that greater spiritual well-being, particularly meaning/ peace was strongly associated with less depression (6). Interestingly, Tai Chi has been used in complimentary medicine for many years in patients with cardiovascular disease. Recently, a randomized study in 2011 showed that Tai Chi exercise improves quality of life, mood, and exercise self-efficacy in patients with CHF (5).
The investigators goal with the currently described study is to use a comprehensive, evidence-based Lifestyle Change Program (LCP) that incorporates all of the above individual components in a single program, individualized to each patient's physical abilities. Moreover, the investigators hypothesis is that such an intervention with chronic heart failure patients will improve Quality of Life, objective cardiometabolic markers, and reduce hospital admissions..
