HaFaC study

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome of signs and symptoms due to a structural or functional abnormality of the heart leading to

inadequate pumping function. The functional state of the patient, i.e. the ability to do the daily activities, plays an important role in HF.

Classification of HF using the New York Heart Association (NYHA) is based on symptoms and perception of exercise tolerance. In addition to

the assessment of severity of the symptoms upon diagnosis, the NYHA classification is also used to monitor response to treatment and is a

predictor of mortality. Although the NYHA classification itself has proved to be clinically useful, the way of classifying HF patients, based on the

patient’s and physician’s perception of exercise intolerance, is inaccurate. Therefore, a need is seen in a new classification model for HF

patients which is based on multiple, objective, and clinically relevant measures covering multiple aspects of the HF syndrome.

The primary objective of this study is to develop an objective, clinical relevant classification model of disease severity for patients with HF

based on an extensive, complete dataset of patients with HF. The study is a prospective, non-randomized, observational, single-center study. A cross-section of the outpatient HF population in the cardiology department will be included (n=278).

Main study parameters are echocardiographic structural and functional measures, blood marker levels, QOL scores, 6MWT (and when

measured (spiro-)ergometry) performance scores, (24 hour) ECG-derived variables, 24 hour blood pressure measurements, and PPG and accelerometer data of patients with HF.

The primary objective of this study is to develop an objective, clinical relevant classification model of disease severity for patients with HF based on an extensive, complete dataset of patients with HF.

baseline, 6 months, 12 months

Observational