A Pilot Feasibility Study in Recovered Heart Failure

Patients with a previous diagnosis of heart failure, who have recovered cardiac function, without symptoms, normal serum biomarker concentrations and who are currently still taking heart failure medications, will be recruited. Participants will be randomised to withdrawal of therapy and control arms and will undergo imaging investigations and cardiopulmonary exercise tests at baseline along with serum biomarker tests. Those participants randomised to withdrawal of therapy will have a gradual, supervised reduction of medications. If, at anytime, there are signs of recurring heart failure, medications will be restarted. Participants in the control arm will continue their medical therapy as usual. Participants will be followed up with further biomarker testing, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and imaging investigations at 6 months. The primary end-point will be a relapse in heart failure, defined by adverse remodelling, increase in left ventricular size, rise in serum biomarkers or clinical evidence of heart failure as judged by the clinical team.