By: Lindsey Furlanic, Communications Strategist, Southlake Health
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada estimates that 100,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure every year. There are 750,000 people living with heart failure in Canada. For patients, this can make everyday life more difficult, limiting energy, causing shortness of breath, and making it harder to stay active and independent. For hospitals, heart failure is a major driver of emergency visits and admissions. The Regional Cardiac Program and Research teams at Southlake Health want to change this.
A Challenging Form of Heart Failure
One of the most challenging forms is heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Patients living with HFpEF have normal pumping heart function, but pressure builds up inside their heart, especially in the left atrium, leading to breathlessness and fatigue. Although heart failure can often be managed, there are limited treatment options for HFpEF, and many patients live with ongoing symptoms.
Advancing Care Through the ALLAY-HF Trial
Southlake’s clinicians and researchers are working to make HFpEF more manageable for patients through the ALLAY-HF clinical trial. The trial is exploring whether creating a small opening between the left and right sides of the heart can relieve excess pressure in the left atrium. By giving that pressure somewhere to go, the approach should ease symptoms and reduce the likelihood of patients needing to be hospitalized.
Unlike earlier studies, ALLAY-HF does not involve leaving a permanent device in the heart. Instead, a specialized catheter is used to create the small opening, with no hardware left behind. This no-implant approach may lower the risk of complications linked to implanted devices and offers a less invasive option for patients with chronic heart failure.
Southlake is the only hospital in Ontario, and one of just three in Canada, participating in this study – a testament to the hospital’s innovation. Liane Porepa, MD, a leading cardiologist and the Medical Director of Southlake’s Heart Function Program, is leading the trial at Southlake in close collaboration with the hospital’s Cardiac Health and Research teams.
“Many people living with heart failure feel limited by their symptoms every day,” said Dr. Porepa. “This study is about finding better ways to help patients feel better, stay active, and spend less time in hospital.”
Research Embedded in Everyday Care
The ALLAY-HF study reflects a careful, patient-focused approach to research. Participants are selected using detailed testing to help identify those most likely to benefit, ensuring the therapy is studied in a way that is both safe and meaningful.
For Southlake, participation in the study reflects the strength of its Regional Cardiac Program and the value of integrating research into everyday clinical practice to enhance care for patients in Ontario and hopefully around the world. Southlake’s contributions to advancing cardiac care extends far beyond the operating and procedure rooms. Its highly skilled team provides almost every type of cardiac care, except heart transplants, saving patients from travelling into travel to Toronto for world-class care. As leaders in their fields, the team actively participate in ground-breaking research and are often the first to perform industry-leading procedures in Ontario, Canada and the world.
As heart failure continues to affect more patients and place increasing demands on health care services, studies like ALLAY-HF offer a glimpse into what the future of care could look like. For patients, it means hope for better symptom control and quality of life. For the health system, it points to new ways of caring for people living with complex, chronic conditions.