Effects of functional electrical stimulation on quality of life and emotional stress in patients with chronic heart failure secondary to ischaemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) improves exercise capacity and endothelial function in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. This study evaluates the impact of FES on quality of life and emotional stress in patients with moderate to severe CHF.


METHODS
Thirty patients with stable CHF (24 men; NYHA class II-III; left ventricular ejection fraction <35%) were randomly assigned (2:1) to a 6-week FES training program (n=20) or placebo (n=10). Questionnaires addressing quality of life [Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), functional and overall], and emotional stress [Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)], as well as plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and 6-min walking distance test (6MWT) were assessed at baseline and after completion of training protocol.


RESULTS
A significant improvement in KCCQ functional (F=76.666, p<0.001), KCCQ overall (F =41.508, p<0.001), BDI (F =17.768, p<0.001) and Zung SDS (F =27.098, p<0.001) was observed in the FES group compared to placebo. Patients in the FES group had also a significant increase in 6MWT (F =19.413, p<0.001) and a trend towards reduction in plasma BNP (F =4.252, p=0.053) compared to placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
FES seems to have a beneficial effect on quality of life, exercise capacity and emotional stress in patients with moderate to severe CHF.
Cardiology Department, General Hospital "G.Genimmatas", Athens, Greece.
Apostolos
A
Karavidas
John
J
Parissis
Sophia
S
Arapi
Dimitrios
D
Farmakis
Dimitrios
D
Korres
Maria
M
Nikolaou
John
J
Fotiadis
Nikolaos
N
Potamitis
Xenia
X
Driva
Ioannis
I
Paraskevaidis
Evaggelos
E
Matsakas
Gerasimos
G
Filippatos
Dimitrios T
DT
Kremastinos
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D010919:Placebos; D011788:Quality of Life; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010919:Placebos; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain