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Blood Flow Reserve: Effects After Training With Heavy Inspiratory Exercises

The Efficacy of Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training on Coronary Blood Flow in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05632614
Acronym
BREATHE
Enrollment
40
Registered
2022-11-30
Start date
2023-05-08
Completion date
2025-08-07
Last updated
2026-05-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Coronary Artery Disease

Keywords

inspiratory muscle strength training, coronary artery disease, positron emission tomography, myocardial blood flow

Brief summary

The goal of this single-site, parallel-group, double-blind, sham-controlled randomized control trial is to examine the effect of high-intensity inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) on coronary blood flow assessed using positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The main question it aims to answer are: • if high-intensity IMST will improve coronary blood flow in patients with CAD, which could be assessed using positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging. Participants will be asked to complete the 8-week high-intensity or low-intensity IMST. Researchers will compare high and low-intensity IMST groups to see if coronary blood flow increases after IMST.

Detailed description

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. With the aging population, increasing number of patients with CAD has frailty and immobility. The health benefits of traditional aerobic exercise have been well-established; however, alternative exercise programs, such as inspiratory muscle training (IMST), may provide greater merits. IMST is a form of exercise that engages the diaphragm and accessory respiratory muscles to repeatedly inhale against resistance, which can be achieved in less time and widely applicable even for immobile or frail patients compared to conventional aerobic exercise. Since barriers to conventional exercise training include immobility, lack of time, and access to facilities, IMST may be a beneficial exercise form that can overcome those factors. A previous study has shown that high-intensity IMT can lower blood pressure and improved vascular endothelial function. Improvements in endothelial function of coronary arteries could improve coronary blood flow, leading to the improvement of anginal symptoms as well as quality of life. IMST might offer a widely applicable, feasible, time-efficient form of training for CAD patients. Our study will examine the preliminary efficacy of IMST on coronary blood flow in patients with CAD.

Interventions

DEVICEHigh-intensity IMST

Participants will use the POWERbreathe KHP2 inspiratory muscle training device. All participants will be assigned to perform 30 inspiratory maneuvers (5 sets of 6, 1-minute rest between sets), 6 days per week, for 6 weeks. Participants will be trained at 55% PIMAX during week 1, 65% PIMAX during week 2, and 75% PIMAX during weeks 3 to 6.

DEVICELow-intensity IMST

Participants will use the POWERbreathe KHP2 inspiratory muscle training device. All participants will be assigned to perform 30 inspiratory maneuvers (5 sets of 6, 1-minute rest between sets), 6 days per week, for 6 weeks.Participants will be trained at 15% PIMAX during week 1, 17% PIMAX during week 2, and 19% PIMAX during weeks 3 to 6.

Sponsors

Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. ≥18 years of age; 2. Patients referred to PET at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute; 3. able to perform a respiratory exercise testing; and, 4. Patients with clinical stability, including no change in medications for the past one month.

Exclusion criteria

1. unstable angina or established diagnosis of severe valvular heart disease, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; 2. unable to follow training/breathing instructions; 3. unable to return for follow-up visit; 4. presence of any major non-cardiac problem that would adversely affect survival during the study in the opinion of the investigator; or, 5. unable to provide informed consent.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Global myocardial flow reserveThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in global myocardial flow reserve on positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging before and after IMST
Global stress myocardial blood flowThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in global stress myocardial blood flow on positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging before and after IMST

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Global rest myocardial blood flowThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in global rest myocardial blood flow on positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging before and after IMST
Maximum myocardial flow reserveThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in maximum myocardial flow reserve on positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging before and after IMST
Maximum myocardial blood flow at rest and stressThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in maximum myocardial blood flow at rest and stress on positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging before and after IMST
Global coronary vascular resistance at stress and restThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in global coronary vascular resistance at stress and rest on positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging before and after IMST
Maximum coronary vascular resistance at stress and restThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in maximum coronary vascular resistance at stress and rest on positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging before and after IMST
Mean segmental (17-segment model) myocardial flow reserveThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in mean segmental (17-segment model) myocardial flow reserve on positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging before and after IMST
Mean segmental (17-segment model) myocardial blood flow at stress and restThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in mean segmental (17-segment model) myocardial blood flow at stress and rest on positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging before and after IMST
Maximal segmental (17-segment model) myocardial blood flow at stress and restThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in maximal segmental (17-segment model) myocardial blood flow at stress and rest on positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging before and after IMST
Summed stress score, summed rest score, and summed difference scoreThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in summed stress score, summed rest score, and summed difference score on positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging before and after IMST
% left ventricular ischemiaThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in % left ventricular ischemia on positron emission tomography coronary perfusion imaging before and after IMST
General quality of lifeThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in general Quality of life assessed using the EQ5D-5L
Angina symptomThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksChange in angina symptom assessed using the Seattle angina Questionnaire
Adherence of IMST programThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksThe proportion of participants adhering to prescribed IMST sessions
Respiratory Muscle StrengthThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksRespiratory Muscle Strength assessed by % change in maximal inspiratory pressure
Resting blood pressureThrough study completion, an average of 8 weeksResting blood pressure measured in a seated position after a 5-minute rest period using an automated blood pressure monitor.

Countries

Canada

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORBenjamin Chow, MD

Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 6, 2026