How blood vessels work in healthy people and those with heart and lung disease

Plain-English translation of NCT02966665 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated September 2025 · Translation generated ·

What is this trial?

Researchers are studying how blood vessels function in different groups of people—from healthy young adults to older adults and people with conditions like heart failure, high blood pressure, or chronic lung disease. The study uses various tests and treatments (including vitamins, medications, and exercise) to measure how well blood vessels dilate and deliver oxygen to tissues. This research could help doctors better understand why blood vessel problems happen as we age and in certain diseases.

Blood vessel function naturally declines with age and is often impaired in people with heart and lung diseases, but doctors don't fully understand why or how to best treat it. This study aims to fill that gap by carefully measuring blood vessel responses in different groups, which could lead to better screening tools and treatments for heart and lung disease.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 18 and 30 years old, or 65 years or older, with no chronic diseases (for the healthy volunteer groups)
you have been diagnosed with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
you have been diagnosed with pulmonary artery hypertension or heart failure
you have chronic high blood pressure
you are scheduled for a routine heart catheterization procedure (for some participants)

You likely don't qualify if…

you have severe COPD requiring supplemental oxygen
you have had a heart attack, stent placement, or coronary bypass surgery
you have unstable chest pain or certain types of heart valve problems
you have significant kidney disease
you have a pacemaker, metal implants, or other metal in your body that would make MRI imaging unsafe

What participation looks like

Depending on which group you're in, you would complete various tests during study visits, which may include exercise tests, blood vessel imaging, and receiving different medications or vitamins by injection or inhalation to see how your blood vessels respond. The study uses advanced imaging (like MRI) and measures blood flow and oxygen use under different conditions. Your specific visits and timeline would depend on your group and health status, and the research team would explain the full schedule during screening.

How blood vessels work in healthy people and those with heart and lung disease

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)