[Effect of cardiac rehabilitation on left ventricular function and exertion capacity in patients with chronic congestive heart failure].
Cardiac rehabilitation is proven to be an effective method of treatment in congestive heart failure (CHF) and it has a positive influence on exercise capacity. There are controversies concerning the influence of physical rehabilitation on morphological and functional parameters of the left ventricle. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a very precise noninvasive method of cardiac examination. The aim of this study was to assess changes in exercise capacity and in morphological parameters of the left ventricle in patients with CHF (NYHA class II and III, ejection fraction less than 35%) undergoing 6-months of physical rehabilitation. 16 patients were divided into two groups: A (7 pts) trained with progressive workload and group B (9 pts) did not trained. Groups were not different in terms of age, gender and NYHA class. In all patients, CMR and cardiopulmonary exercise test were performed at baseline and after 6 months.


RESULTS
At baseline, both groups were similar with respect to the LV dimensions, thickness of LV walls and exercise capacity. At follow up, we observed an increase in exercise capacity in only the trained group (A). Exercise time increased from 357.1 +/- 30 sec. to 830.1 +/- 59 sec. (p < 0.05); max. workload from 2.7 +/- 0.36 MET to 6.21 +/- 0.8 MET (p < 0.05) and VO2 peak from 14.3 +/- 1.8 ml/kg/min to 18.8 +/- 2.1 ml/kg/min (p < 0.05). In group B (not trained) there were no changes after 6 months in these parameters. Morphological LV parameters were similar in both groups at baseline and after 6-months of rehabilitation.
Klecha
Artur
A
I Klinika Kardiologii, Instytut Kardiologii Collegium Medicum Uniwersytet Jagielloński, 31-501 Kraków, ul. Kopernika 17.
Bacior
Bogumiła
B
Kubinyi
Aleksandra
A
Kawecka-Jaszcz
Kalina
K
Brzozowska-Czarnek
Agata
A
Urbanik
Andrzej
A
D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016526:Workload