NCT07447037

Integrating Aerobic, Respiratory, and Cognitive Training in Acute Heart Failure

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Cairo University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 50 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of integrating aerobic, respiratory and cognitive training in acute heart failure.

Detailed description

Patients with acute heart failure often experience severe dyspnea, muscle weakness, and cognitive decline during hospitalization, which together impair recovery and increase the risk of rehospitalization. Respiratory muscle dysfunction contributes to exercise intolerance and worsened prognosis, highlighting the importance of targeted inspiratory training. Likewise, immobilization leads to peripheral muscle deconditioning, while cognitive impairment is associated with poor adherence to treatment and lower quality of life. Pharmacological therapies remain the cornerstone of acute heart failure management; however, they do not directly address these functional and cognitive complications. Consequently, non-pharmacological strategies have gained increasing attention as adjunctive treatments, offering potential benefits without the risks of drug-related side effects. It is hypothesized that patients with acute heart failure require a multidimensional rehabilitation program that simultaneously supports respiratory, muscular, and cognitive functions. The BLM approach-combining arm ergometer exercise, inspiratory muscle training, and computerized cognitive training-may represent a novel, safe, and effective strategy to accelerate recovery, improve functional outcomes, reduce hospital stay, and potentially lower readmission rates. Few clinical trials have evaluated such an integrative program in the acute hospital setting. If proven effective, this approach could be incorporated into routine cardiac rehabilitation protocols, providing holistic care that addresses both physical and cognitive dimensions of heart failure.

Conditions

• Acute Heart Failure

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Aerobic training	Participants in the experimental group will receive arm ergometer training performed at the bedside for 10-15 minutes, twice daily, at low-to-moderate intensity corresponding to 40-50% of the age-predicted maximum heart rate, under appropriate monitoring. The intervention will be continued throughout the hospitalization period for a minimum duration of three weeks.
OTHER	Inspiratory muscle training	Participants in the experimental group will receive inspiratory muscle training using a threshold device set at 30% of maximal inspiratory pressure, performed twice daily for 15 minutes per session. The training load will be progressively increased according to patient tolerance, and the intervention will be continued throughout the hospitalization period for a minimum duration of three weeks.
OTHER	Cognitive training	Participants in the experimental group will receive computerized cognitive training consisting of 20-minute daily sessions targeting attention, memory, and problem-solving abilities. The intervention will be implemented throughout the hospitalization period and will continue for a minimum duration of three weeks.
OTHER	Conventional therapy	Participants in both groups will receive conventional therapy. The intervention will be implemented throughout the hospitalization period and will continue for a minimum duration of three weeks.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-07
• Primary completion: 2026-04-22
• Completion: 2026-04-30
• First posted: 2026-03-03
• Last updated: 2026-03-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Egypt