Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation

This study looked at a new combination of two blood thinners, rivaroxaban and ticagrelor, in 40 people with atrial fibrillation who had a heart stent placed. The goal was to see if this combo causes less bleeding than the standard three-drug therapy, while still preventing heart …

This study tested whether colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug, can reduce inflammation in the arteries of people with diabetes or pre-diabetes who recently had a heart attack or stroke. 115 participants received colchicine or placebo, and researchers used PET scans to measure c…

This study tested whether a special blood pressure cuff and remote monitoring program can help people with high blood pressure get better control when seeing doctors virtually. About 100 adults with hypertension joined the study. The program tracked blood pressure at home and sha…

This study looked at 1,284 people with atrial fibrillation who had a successful heart ablation procedure. It compared taking standard blood thinners versus aspirin to prevent strokes. The goal was to see which approach better reduces stroke risk without causing major bleeding.

This study tested a new way to help heart failure patients with weak hearts (ejection fraction 35% or less) get the right medications. Over 2,400 patients with implantable defibrillators were included. The approach used a nurse-led algorithm to identify patients and send recommen…

This study tested the drug spironolactone in 15 adults with chronic right-sided heart failure. The goal was to see if it safely reduces stress on the right side of the heart and improves heart function. Participants took either spironolactone or a placebo, and researchers measure…

This study looked at 411 people with both heart failure and atrial fibrillation (a fast, irregular heartbeat). It compared two approaches: using a catheter ablation procedure to restore normal heart rhythm, versus simply controlling the heart rate with medication. The goal was to…

This study looked at 200 people with permanent atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat) and heart failure (a weak heart pump). Researchers wanted to see if adding pacing to both lower heart chambers, along with a defibrillator, could shrink the heart's main pumping chamber an…

This study tested whether two common blood pressure medicines (ACE inhibitors or ARBs) could help high-risk COVID-19 patients avoid intensive care, a ventilator, or death. About 372 adults with COVID-19 and heart disease risk factors took part. Researchers tracked outcomes like I…

This study tested whether colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug, can slow the buildup of calcium in the aortic valve in people with mild-to-moderate aortic stenosis. 24 adults were randomly assigned to take colchicine or a placebo for 6 months. The main goal was to see if the dru…

This study tested whether a daily breathing exercise called inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) can improve blood flow to the heart in people with coronary artery disease. Forty adults completed either a high-intensity or low-intensity version of the exercise for 8 weeks.…

This pilot study looked at whether a 12-week virtual exercise program could help women with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) improve their fitness, quality of life, and mental health. Twenty women were randomly assigned to either high-intensity interval training (HI…

This study tested a hybrid rehabilitation program for people with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a condition that causes leg pain and makes walking hard. 26 participants started with a few on-site classes and then continued a walking program at home. The goal was to see if th…

This study looked at 502 people with heart failure who were getting an implantable defibrillator (ICD) to prevent sudden cardiac arrest. Researchers used a special MRI to see if scarring in the heart could predict who would later need a shock from their device. The goal was to le…

This study looked at how common vitamin D deficiency is in people with chronic heart failure and whether taking vitamin D supplements helps. Researchers followed 91 patients for 26 months, checking their blood and heart function. The main goal was to find out how many heart failu…

This study examined whether certain blood markers (like proBNP and hsTnT) can predict stroke and other complications in people with device-detected subclinical atrial fibrillation (silent AFib). Researchers enrolled 321 adults with pacemakers or heart monitors who had short episo…

This study looked at 200 people with atrial fibrillation to see how two treatments—catheter ablation or exercise training—change levels of a brain chemical called BDNF. Researchers also checked if these changes relate to depression, quality of life, and symptoms. The goal was to …