# Visceral Adipose Tissue and Exercise Capacity in Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2020 · $41,077

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Title: Visceral Adipose Tissue and Exercise Capacity in Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction
(HFpEF)
Background: People with Heart Failure and preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) experience poor quality of
life (QOL) due to symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue, and exercise intolerance. Compared to healthy peers, people
with HFpEF experience marked exercise intolerance manifested by decreased peak aerobic capacity and
workload. Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of HFpEF and is related to poor exercise
tolerance. Prior studies in non-HFpEF cohorts have shown that excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is
associated with cardiovascular disease and chronic systemic inflammation. While, there are no proven
effective therapies to reduce mortality in HFpEF, the relationship between VAT and HFpEF severity may be
one area for improved understanding of the pathophysiology of HFpEF. No prior study has directly evaluated
the relationships between VAT and the pathophysiology of HFpEF.
Specific Aims: We will determine if people with HFpEF have greater amounts of VAT compared to healthy,
matched controls using magnetic resonance imaging (Aim #1) and evaluate if greater VAT is related to
reduced exercise capacity (Aim#2), biomarkers of inflammation, chronic activity, and QOL (Aim #3).
Methods and Objectives: This study will be conducted utilizing HFpEF patients (n=25) enrolled in an ongoing
NIH sponsored clinical trial, Inorganic Nitrate to Amplify the Benefits and tolerability of Exercise training in
HFpEF (Inorganic Nitrate to Amplify the Benefits and toLerability of Exercise in HFpEF, INABLE, RO1
HL128526-1) and healthy age, sex, and BMI matched controls (n=25) enrolled through this proposed study. All
participants will undergo Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Dual X-ray Absorptiometry to quantify VAT (Aim
#1) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing with expired gas analysis to quantify aerobic capacity (peak VO2),
hemodynamics (cardiac output, heart rate, and blood pressure) (Aim#2). Chronic activity will be measured
using external accelerometer devices, QOL will be assessed by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy
questionnaire, and biomarkers of inflammation will be assessed using blood laboratory specimens. (Aim #3).
Expected Outcomes: Upon completion of this research we expect to observe a difference in the amount of
VAT in HFpEF compared to controls. Across all people we expect an inverse relationship between the amount
of VAT and exercise capacity, chronic activity levels, and QOL. Interaction analysis will be performed to
determine whether the associations between VAT and disease severity are amplified in subjects with HFpEF.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9984517
- **Project number:** 5F31HL143952-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Katlyn Elizabeth Koepp Borlaug
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $41,077
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-13 → 2021-08-12

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9984517

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9984517, Visceral Adipose Tissue and Exercise Capacity in Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (5F31HL143952-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9984517. Licensed CC0.

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