On Apr. 15, 2003, the National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLB) announced a $37 million trial, coordinated by Duke University Medical Center cardiologists, that could determine definitively whether a tailored exercise program can help heart failure patients live longer.

An estimated 4.7 million Americans suffer from the condition, with 400,000 new cases reported each year, and, according to the researchers, it is the only cardiovascular disease that is rising in incidence. Once diagnosed with heart failure, about 50 percent of patients die within five years.

While mortality and hospitalization rates were the primary measures in the trial, the researchers also hoped to learn more about any medical complications caused by exercise. The researchers were also able to determine those types of patients who would benefit the most from exercise, and identify those for whom exercise might be risky.