Clinical trials

REDEEM-CAD is a prospective multi-centre study of CAD risk evaluation and management in cancer survivors 40-70 years with chemotherapy or radiotherapy \>5 years ago.

Heart Failure and valvular heart disease are disproportionate problems in rural and remote Australia (RRA). Echocardiography is the best imaging investigation, and essential for management, but access to this essential test shows huge geographic variations, primarily because of dependence on expert acquisition. This trial seeks to demonstrate the effectiveness of artificial intelligence-based echocardiography for triage and management of patients with known or suspected heart disease in RRA.

Study Rationale: Breast cancer survivors are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) or neurocognitive disease than age-matched counterparts without a history of cancer diagnosis. Some anti-cancer treatments cause damage to the cells of heart and the walls of blood vessels, which may exacerbate neurovascular dysfunction and cancer-related cognitive impairment (symptoms such as 'chemo-brain'), as well as accelerating the onset of neurocognitive disease. Therefore, effective policies and therapeutic strategies are needed to minimize neurovascular dysfunction and neurocognitive disease in at-risk populations like breast cancer survivors. Regular exercise training is effective in slowing or preventing the development of CVD. Furthermore, higher fitness levels are associated with lower dementia risk in older adults, which may be due to better neurovascular function. However, whether exercise training incorporated into a Cardio-Oncology Rehabilitation and Exercise (CORE) programme can improve neurovascular function in breast cancer survivors is currently unknown. Therefore, the primary aim of this study will be to determine the effect of a CORE programme on neurovascular function in long-term breast cancer survivors. Study Description: This study will be a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of a CORE programme on neurovascular function in long-term breast cancer survivors. Participants will complete a series of baseline assessments, including lifestyle questionnaires, a cognitive function assessment, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), ultrasound assessments of arterial stiffness and vascular function, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Furthermore, participants will wear a blood pressure monitor at home for 24 hours, and a physical activity monitor for seven days. Following completion of baseline assessments, participants will be randomised to either the CORE program or a 'usual care' group. The CORE program will include a 6-month exercise training program supervised by an Exercise Physiologist at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. The usual care group will carry on with healthcare from their usual healthcare provider(s) for 6 months. Participants will then complete two follow-up study visits following completion of the 6-month intervention period, with identical procedures to the baseline study visits. Study Duration: This study involves two baseline study visits in month 1, followed by two study visits in month 7. Participants randomised to the CORE program will be asked to attend the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute on a weekly basis for supervised exercise training sessions. However, the supervised exercise training sessions will be provided by a mix of in-person, video-conferencing and tele-health modes depending on each participants availability and needs.

This is a prospective study in which a process of identifying and improving a reduction of functional capacity in COVID-19 survivors \>50 years old. The overall goal of this study to identify the feasibility and value of risk-guided medical therapy and exercise intervention in COVID-19 survivors.

This is a prospective study in which a process of identifying and reducing heart failure (HF) risk will be applied to cancer survivors \>55 years old with chemotherapy \>5 years ago. The overall goal of this study to identify the feasibility and value of risk-guided cardiac rehabilitation (exercise, risk factor modification, and behavioural support) as a component of survivorship care.

Echocardiography is a cornerstone of modern cardiology management, but access in rural and remote areas is limited. We have developed a robot ("Edler" named after the originator of echocardiography) which enables a sonographer to complete an examination at a distance. This study seeks to compare the images obtained by both methods, the completeness of the exam over a feasible time, and to identify particular components of the exam that are difficult to obtain using the robot.

This study will test the feasibility and effectiveness of an innovative model of care for cognitively impaired patients with heart failure. This program aims to improve cognition, reduce dementia risk and cardiovascular events, and will be supported by innovative digital technology for wide scale rollout and implementation. Findings from this research will transform the way healthcare is delivered to cognitively impaired patients with heart disease who have a very high risk of developing dementia.