Completed

PET-OSAEffects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy on Myocardial Energetics and Sympathetic Nerve Function in Patients With Heart Failure and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

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What is being tested

Positron Emission Tomography

Other
Who is being recruted

Apnea+10

+ Cardiovascular Diseases

+ Heart Diseases

Over 18 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Phase 1
Interventional
Study Start: July 2005
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorOttawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
Last updated: January 14, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: July 1, 2005

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

OSA and heart failure (HF) are states of increased afterload, metabolic demand and sympathetic nervous system(SNS) activation. In patients with OSA and HF, CPAP initially may reduce LV stroke volume(SV) but subsequently improves LV function. This may relate to an early beneficial effect on myocardial energetics through early reduction in metabolic demand that subsequently leads to improved efficiency of LV contraction. However, it is not clear whether CPAP favourably affects cardiac energetics. Any such benefit may also relate to reduced SNS activation with CPAP therapy. However its effect on myocardial SN function is also not well studied. We propose to evaluate the temporal effect of CPAP on daytime 1) oxidative metabolism; 2) the WMI as an estimate of mechanical efficiency; 3) myocardial SN pre-synaptic function; and 4) HR variability in patients with OSA and HF. We will also determine whether these parameters are altered compared to a group of patients with HF without OSA. In conjunction with echocardiographic measures of LV stroke work, PET derived \[11C\]acetate kinetics will be used as a measure of oxidative metabolism, to determine the work metabolic index (WMI). \[11C\]HED retention will be used to measure cardiac SN pre-synaptic function. HYPOTHESES Primary Hypotheses: In patients with chronic stable HF and OSA, 6-8 weeks' of CPAP demonstrates: 1. beneficial effects on daytime myocardial metabolism leading to a reduction in the rate of oxidative metabolism as measured by \[11C\]acetate kinetics using PET imaging; 2. improvement in energy transduction from oxidative metabolism to stroke work as measured by an increase in the daytime work-metabolic index. Secondary Hypotheses: In patients with chronic stable heart failure and OSA, 1. CPAP leads to an early (1 week'') reduction in daytime oxidative metabolism that precedes the improvement in work-metabolic index, indicating an early energy sparing effect; 2. CPAP leads to i) an increase in daytime myocardial SN pre-synaptic function as measured by increased \[11C\]HED retention on PET imaging, and ii) a parallel decrease in sympathetic and increase in vagal modulation of sino-atrial discharge (i.e. heart rate (HR) variability) 3. there is impaired daytime myocardial oxidative metabolism, work-metabolic index, and myocardial sympathetic nerve function compared to patients with heart failure without OSA. 'original protocol indicated 1 month follow up but was changed to 6-8 weeks in order to accommodate patient logistics and imaging centre scheduling. ''Logistics did not permit all patients to complete 1 week scan.

Official TitleEffects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy on Myocardial Energetics and Sympathetic Nerve Function in Patients With Heart Failure and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. 
NCT00756366
Principal SponsorOttawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
Last updated: January 14, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

67 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.



Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

Over 18 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

ApneaCardiovascular DiseasesHeart DiseasesHeart FailureNervous System DiseasesRespiration DisordersRespiratory Tract DiseasesSigns and Symptoms, RespiratorySleep Apnea SyndromesSleep Wake DisordersSleep Apnea, ObstructiveSleep Disorders, IntrinsicDyssomnias

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * systolic LV dysfunction (LVEF\<40%; by echocardiography, radionuclide or contrast ventriculography) * symptoms of HF: NYHA Class II to III * stable condition with optimally tolerated medical therapy, unchanged for \> 4 weeks * Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosed on nocturnal polysomnogram with an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) \>15 events/hr and a predominantly obstructive pattern(more than 80% of events being obstructive in nature)OR * no OSA: defined as AHI\<5 (control subjects) will be matched with the OSA group for gender, age + 5 years, ejection fraction (EF) +5%, drug therapy and etiology of HF (ischemic or non-ischemic) * willingness to receive CPAP therapy * informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * unstable angina or recent myocardial infarction (MI) (\<4 weeks prior) * severe valvular dysfunction * requirement for revascularization * a permanent pacemaker * atrial fibrillation * significant ventricular arrhythmia or sinus node dysfunction * life expectancy less than 1 year due to other co-morbidity * significant restrictive and obstructive lung disease * concomitant treatment or use of: tricyclic antidepressants, cocaine or drugs which may alter catecholamine uptake; or hypnotic, benzodiazepine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRI), neuroleptic, narcotic or other medications which may alter sleep or sleep-disordered breathing * central sleep apnea * other primary sleep disorder (i.e. periodic limb movement with arousal \>5 events/hr, narcolepsy, rapid eye movement (REM) behaviour disorder) * requiring supplemental oxygen therapy at night * debilitating daytime somnolence (indicating clear-cut indication for CPAP therapy) * a previous cardiac transplant * a large transmural scar defined on previous perfusion imaging(severe resting perfusion defect (\<50% uptake) occupying \>25% of the LV)148-150 * age \< 18 years * pregnant or breast-feeding

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

3 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

Active Comparator
Heart Failure-OSA Group, randomized to early CPAP

Group II

Active Comparator
Heart Failure-OSA Group, randomized to late CPAP

Group III

Heart Failure- no OSA, no CPAP therapy, observational group

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Suspended

University of Ottawa Heart Institute

Ottawa, CanadaSee the location
CompletedOne Study Center