Plain-English translation of NCT02856620 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Heart Failure research guide →Researchers are trying to understand aortic stenosis—a condition where the heart's main valve becomes narrower and restricts blood flow—especially in patients who also have heart failure. This trial will look at blood tests, heart ultrasound patterns, and signs of frailty (physical weakness) to build a better prediction tool that shows how well patients will function before and after valve repair or replacement surgery.
Right now, doctors have a hard time predicting which patients with valve narrowing will struggle most after surgery and which will bounce back quickly. By identifying key warning signs in blood work, heart imaging, and physical fitness, researchers hope to personalize treatment decisions and improve recovery outcomes.
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Participants will have heart ultrasound scans, blood tests to measure markers of heart stress, and a 6-minute walking test to assess physical fitness and frailty. Some participants will be followed before valve surgery (if needed) and then again afterward to see how well they recover. The study compares results across different groups—people with mild or severe valve disease, those with and without heart failure, and healthy volunteers without heart problems—to build this new prediction tool.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 16, 2026 · Not medical advice
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