Effect of Accelerated Pacing Rates on Exercise Tolerance, Quality of Life and Arrhythmia Burden in Patients with Evidence of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: The PACE-UP Randomised Controlled Trial

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is the most prevalent phenotype of heart failure. However, the treatment options for these patients remain limited. This study is a prospective, two-arm randomised controlled trial including 160 participants (adults aged 35-75 years old) with pacemakers and early HFpEF from Adelaide, South Australia. Participants will be randomised to an accelerated pacing rate (75bpm) or usual care (60bpm), performing follow-up at 4-weeks and 52-weeks post randomisation. It is hypothesised that increasing the heart rate settings compared to standard permanent pacemaker settings, will improve exercise tolerance, defined using peak oxygen consumption, at 12-months post-randomisation.