Short-term residential cardiac rehabilitation reduces B-type natriuretic peptide.
BACKGROUND
The inactive N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) serves as a marker of heart failure. We evaluated the effects of moderate exercise on NT-proBNP and other cardiovascular disease risk factors in 359 consecutive patients admitted for residential cardiovascular rehabilitation.


RESULTS
Patients underwent cycle ergometry, blood sampling, and fasting glucose tests at the beginning and end of 25+/-4 days of the exercise program. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was estimated from the maximal watts achieved. The program consisted of cycling for 17+/-4 min, 6 times/week, and daily walking for 45 min at intensity of 60-70% of the individual maximal heart rate (HR). Patients underwent echocardiographic examination and were categorized according to left ventricular ejection fraction. NT-proBNP decreased to 29% (P = 0.001) for entire group after training. Maximal performance and VO2max improved significantly (P = 0.001). NT-proBNP was inversely related to pulse pressure at maximal exercise (-0.39), HR range (-0.35), and HR recovery in 1 min (-0.28).


CONCLUSIONS
Four weeks of exercise reduced NT-proBNP, independent of left ventricular ejection fraction, and improved physical fitness and blood lipid profiles. NT-proBNP as a prognostic biomarker of heart failure patients was reduced and was inversely related to maximal performance and VO2max.
Berent
Robert
R
Center for Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Rehabilitationszentrum Austria, Stifterstrasse 11, Bad Schallerbach 4701, Austria. robert.berent@aon.at
von Duvillard
Serge P
SP
Crouse
Stephen F
SF
Auer
Johann
J
Green
John S
JS
Sinzinger
Helmut
H
Schmid
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004452:Echocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D012114:Residential Treatment; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D015415:Biomarkers; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D008055:Lipids; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain