Endurance exercise training in older patients with heart failure: results from a randomized, controlled, single-blind trial.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that exercise training (ET) improves exercise capacity and other clinical outcomes in older persons with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HfrEF).


METHODS
Randomized, controlled, single-blind trial.


METHODS
Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program.


METHODS
Fifty-nine patients aged 60 and older with HFrEF recruited from hospital records and referring physicians were randomly assigned to a 16-week supervised ET program (n=30) or an attention-control, nonexercise, usual care control group (n=29).


METHODS
Sixteen-week supervised ET program of endurance exercise (walking and stationary cycling) three times per week for 30 to 40 minutes at moderate intensity regulated according to heart rate and perceived exertion.


METHODS
Individuals blinded to group assignment assessed four domains pivotal to HFrEF pathophysiology: exercise performance, left ventricular (LV) function, neuroendocrine activation, and health-related quality of life (QOL).


RESULTS
At follow-up, the ET group had significantly greater exercise time and workload than the control group, but there were no significant differences between the groups for the primary outcomes: peak exercise oxygen consumption (VO(2) peak), ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT), 6-minute walk distance, QOL, LV volumes, EF, or diastolic filling. Other than serum aldosterone, there were no significant differences after ET in other neuroendocrine measurements. Despite a lack of a group "training" effect, a subset (26%) of individuals increased VO(2) peak by 10% or more and improved other clinical variables as well.


CONCLUSIONS
In older patients with HFrEF, ET failed to produce consistent benefits in any of the four pivotal domains of HF that were examined, although the heterogeneous response of older patients with HFrEF to ET requires further investigation to better determine which patients with HFrEF will respond favorably to ET.
Brubaker
Peter H
PH
Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA. brubaker@wfu.edu
Moore
J Brian
JB
Stewart
Kathryn P
KP
Wesley
Debra J
DJ
Kitzman
Dalane W
DW
D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000097:blood; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000502:physiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D017211:Treatment Failure; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
D000804:Angiotensin II; D000450:Aldosterone; D010100:Oxygen