Exercise training in heart failure improves quality of life and exercise capacity.
OBJECTIVE
Benefit from exercise training in heart failure has mainly been shown in men with ischaemic disease. We aimed to examine the effects of exercise training in heart failure patients < or = 75 years old of both sexes and with various aetiology.


RESULTS
Fifty-four patients with stable mild-to-moderate heart failure were randomized to exercise or control, and 49 completed the study (49% > or = 65 years; 29% women; 24% non-ischaemic aetiology; training, n = 22; controls, n = 27). The exercise programme consisted of bicycle training at 80% of maximal intensity over a period of 4 months. Improvements vs controls were found regarding maximal exercise capacity (6 +/- 12 vs -4 +/- 12% [mean +/- SD], P < 0.01) and global quality-of-life (2 [1] vs 0 [1] units [median ¿inter-quartile range¿], P < 0.01), but not regarding maximal oxygen consumption or the dyspnoea-fatigue index. All of these four variables significantly improved in men with ischaemic aetiology compared with controls (n = 11). However, none of these variables improved in women with ischaemic aetiology (n = 5), or in patients with non-ischaemic aetiology (n = 6). The training response was independent of age, left ventricular systolic function, and maximal oxygen consumption. No training-related adverse effects were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Supervised exercise training was safe and beneficial in heart failure patients < or = 75 years, especially in men with ischaemic aetiology. The effects of exercise training in women and patients with non-ischaemic aetiology should be further examined.
Department of Cardiology, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Sweden.
R
R
Willenheimer
L
L
Erhardt
C
C
Cline
E
E
Rydberg
B
B
Israelsson
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011788:Quality of Life; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
D010100:Oxygen