Chronic Heart Failure and Cardiac Rehabilitation for the Elderly: Is It Beneficial?
Heart failure is a common health problem among persons at or above 65 years of age. To date, no data exist describing to what extent, if any, cardiac rehabilitation or exercise training might be useful in this population. Fourteen randomized trials involving mostly heart failure patients less than 65 years of age showed that exercise training improves exercise tolerance and reverses, in part, abnormalities in both autonomic function and skeletal muscle histology and biochemistry. Based on these trials, the use of exercise training in older persons with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II or III heart failure appears to be a safe and effective adjunctive therapy. Exercise trials involving patients with heart failure at or above 65 years of age are necessary. (c)1999 by CVRR, Inc.
Keteyian
Steven J.
SJ
Henry Ford Heart and Vascular Institute and the Department of Internal Medicine, Detroit, MI.
Brawner
Clinton A.
CA