Could thin air help failing hearts? small study cut short
NCT ID NCT03537079
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at whether breathing air with less oxygen (like at high altitude) during exercise training could help people with heart failure do more physical activity. Only 14 patients were enrolled before the study was stopped early. The main goal was to see if this method could safely improve exercise capacity.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- low-oxygen air (normobaric hypoxia)
- What this could lead to
- If this approach worked, it could point toward a new way to improve exercise ability and quality of life for people with heart failure.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small, early study that was terminated before completion, so we cannot draw reliable conclusions. The intervention also carries risks like headache or dizziness from low oxygen.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University Hospital
Grenoble, 38000, France
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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