Tai Chi for Chronic Heart Failure: A Phase III Trial

Funding Period: September 2004 - June 2008

Results of a pilot feasibility study of Tai Chi in patients with heart failure (n=30) found that those randomized to a Tai Chi program significantly improved their exercise capacity (six-minute walk distance), quality-of-life (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure score), and neurohormonal status (serum B-type natriuretic peptide levels) compared to people compared to patients who did not participate in Tai Chi. The larger phase III trial randomizes 150 heart failure patients to either 12 weeks of Tai Chi or to an education attention control. Patients with chronic stable heart failure (systolic dysfunction, left ventricle ejection fraction <40%, Group New York Heart Association Class I-IV) are being recruited from outpatient primary care and cardiology clinics. Our primary aim is to examine Tai Chi's effects on functional capacity and quality-of-life. Secondary aims include further elucidating the mechanism of Tai Chi's effects, including examination of cognitive-behavioral or psychosocial influences (e.g., mood, psychosocial functioning, self-efficacy, beliefs and expectations of mind-body medicine) and Heart Failure-specific physiologic/metabolic processes in response to meditative exercise (e.g., neurohormonal status, heart rate variability and markers of autonomic tone, myocardial structure and function). The results of this research will help define the role of Tai Chi in current heart failure management, further our understanding of the mechanism of action, and provide preliminary analyses of the costs and benefits of treatment.

Current Status: Patients being enrolled

Principal Investigator: Russell S. Phillips, MD (1)

Co-Investigators: Peter Wayne , PhD (4); Roger B. Davis, ScD (1); David Eisenberg, MD (2); Ary Goldberger, MD (1); Mary Beth Hamel, MD, MPH (1); Ted J. Kaptchuk, OMD (2); Lynne W. Stevenson, MD (1); Malissa J. Wood, MD (5); Gloria Y. Yeh, MD, MPH (2)

Collaborating Institutions:
(1) Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center; (2) Harvard Medical School's Osher Institute; (3) Brigham and Women's Hospital; (4) New England School of Acupuncture; (5) Massachusetts General Hospital

Funding Agency - NCCAM/NIH---Grant # 5 R01 AT002454-02

Research Faculty and Staff

Ongoing or Completed Studies:

• Seminar Series
• Faculty Publications
• NEWTT (NESA East-West Think Tank)