What is the issue for NSW?
Heart failure affects 1-2% of the Australian population, resulting in a significant number of hospital admissions and placing a huge burden on the NSW health system. Approximately half of those with heart failure will also develop frailty, a devastating syndrome of ‘accelerated ageing’, putting them at even greater risk of adverse events and hospitalisation.
What does the research aim to do and how?
This project aims to tackle this burden on the NSW health system by implementing a home-based nurse-coordinated resistance exercise program. This project uses a study design called a pilot randomised controlled trial to test if a three-month exercise program can reduce hospital admissions for adults with heart failure as well as improve their frailty, physical function, and quality of life. Adults living with heart failure will be recruited from Blacktown Hospital outpatient department. The exercise program will be home-based and is co-designed with patients and health experts. After the three-month exercise program, group discussions will be held to obtain feedback on how people think the program will work in the long-term. Following this pilot study, a larger randomised controlled trial will be conducted across multiple hospitals.