ACHIEVE-P4: PATHFINDER is a randomized, blinded clinical trial of portable air cleaners (PAC) provided at the time of hospital discharge to Heart Failure (HF) patients. It will be carried out at Henry Ford Hospitals. This project is part of the ACHIEVE GREATER (Addressing Cardiometabolic Health In Populations Through Early PreVEntion in the GREAT LakEs Region) Center (IRB 100221MP2A). The ACHIEVE GREATER Center involves several separate but related projects that aim to prolong lifespan among Detroit, MI and Cleveland, OH, for three chronic conditions, hypertension (HTN, Project 1), heart failure (HF, Projects 2 \& 4) and coronary heart disease (CHD, Project 3). The present study is Project 4 (Aim 1) a randomized clinical trial titled: Portable Air cleaners to Treat Heart Failure and Negate Disparities of Environment and Race (PATHFINDER), of the ACHIEVE GREATER Center.
Project 4 is a randomized, double-blind, parallel limb trial of 400 patients with hospitalized HF who will be provided active PAC vs sham at discharge from HFH.
Participants will receive two PACs at discharge and an indoor PM2.5 sensor. PACs will be randomized to either active PAC with HEPA filters or sham PAC without HEPA filters.
Researchers will compare the following outcomes of the two groups (more outcomes below in Outcome Measures section):
1. Change in NTproBNP from baseline to 90 days
2. Home PM2.5 levels from baseline to 90 days
3. Clinical events such as death and hospitalization will be monitored
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Currently in the emergency room or hospitalized with plan to be discharged to home, or
. Diagnosis of heart failure
. BNP\>200 ng/L or NTproBNP\>1000 ng/L during hospitalization or within 1 month prior to screening
. Expected ability to fully participate in study (can tolerate study processes, no long travel)
Exclusion criteria
. Hemodialysis dependent
. If dialysis is being considered by participant's care team and their eGFR value is \<30 mL/min/1.73 sq m
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
The impact of PAC use for 90 days after hospital discharge for HF compared to sham on NTproBNP level.
Timeframe: Baseline at hospital discharge to 90 days.