The COPE-HF study will evaluate if a 16-week telephone intervention focused on helping patients cope with their heart condition can improve quality of life and reduce the need for hospitalizations.

Eligibility Requirements

Inclusion Criteria

To participate in the study, participants must:

• Be age 21 or older
• Have New York Heart Association class II-III congestive heart failure of at least three months duration
• Have left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40 percent

Exclusion Criteria

Patients with the following conditions will be excluded from the study:

• Uncontrolled hypertension, with blood pressure over 180/105 mm Hg
• Current pregnancy
• Myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft, or major life event within three months of enrollment
• Alcohol or drug abuse within twelve months

Study Requirements

Participation in the study requires the following:

• Two visits to Duke University Hospital (four hours each)
• Echocardiogram, ultrasound picture of the heart
• Ultrasound picture of an artery in your arm
• Bloodwork and 24-hour urine collection
• Holter monitoring (wear for 24 hours at home and return equipment via mail)
• 16 weekly phone calls lasting about 30 minutes each
• Completion of psychological questionnaires at home

Benefits

Benefits of participating in this trial include:

• Free echocardiogram result at end of study
• Educational information about heart failure
• Help health care providers gain a better understanding of how to treat heart failure

Compensation

• $140 upon completion of both visits
• $20 yearly for completing brief follow-up questionnaires
• Overnight hotel stay and gas mileage reimbursement available for patients traveling a long distance

For more information, contact Kristy Johnson, MPH at 919-681-5874.