What the trial was testing
The REGROUP enrolled 1,150 patients with heart failure. The study was sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.
What the results showed
15.5% of open-harvest patients and 13.9% of endoscopic-harvest patients had major heart events—no significant difference.
The New England journal of medicine · 2019 · NCT01850082
These findings — that no meaningful difference in death, heart attack, or repeat procedures between the two harvesting methods — were published in the The New England journal of medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 1,150 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with heart failure, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Both vein-harvesting techniques are widely used and FDA-cleared for bypass surgery. If you're having bypass, ask your surgeon which method they use and why. Endoscopic harvest may lower leg wound infections slightly, but overall heart outcomes appear similar.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open heart failure trials
Sacubitril/Valsartan in Patients With Prosthetic Heart Valves With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction
This study aims to evaluate the effect of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with prosthetic heart valves with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
Lifestyle Behaviours of Women Newly Diagnosed With Heart Failure
Heart Failure occurs when the heart's ability to pump blood is reduced. Heart failure can lead to symptoms of breathlessness, fatigue and ankle swelling, and result in health complications including damage to other organs (e.g. kidneys), reduced function and quality of life. Although the symptoms of heart failure are similar for men and women, there are sex differences. Lifestyle behaviours such as physical activity are important modifiable risk factor for heart failure. Women continue to be underrepresented in heart failure studies and treatment guidelines are male-derived due to these disparities in recruitment. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the physical activity levels, sedentary behaviour, sleep and quality of life and understand the barriers and facilitators to these lifestyle behaviours in women newly diagnosed with heart failure.