A randomized trial of the effects of exercise training in Chagas cardiomyopathy.
OBJECTIVE
The effects of exercise training in chronic heart failure are well established, however, they have not been evaluated in Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC). We sought to determine the effects of exercise training on functional capacity, health-related quality of life (HQoL), and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with ChC.


RESULTS
This randomized, controlled, single-blind trial included 40 patients with ChC (age 49.5 +/- 7.8 years, 57.5% male) who did not practice regular exercise. All patients were assessed, at baseline and at the end of the study, by exercise test (VO(2) and exercise time), six-minute walk test (6MWT), Goldman Specific Activity Scale (SAS), HQoL, and BNP levels. Patients were randomized to inactive control group (ICG = 19) or exercise training group (ETG = 21). Exercise training group patients underwent 12 weeks of exercise training: walking for up to 30 min (intensity 50-70% HR reserve + HR at rest) and warm-up and cooling-down exercising, three times a week. The data were analysed for delta values (Delta= end - baseline). After intervention, compared with the ICG, the ETG had significant increases in functional parameters including, DeltaVO(2) (6.5 vs. 2.8 mL/kg/min, P = 0.001), Delta exercise time (2.9 vs.1.1 min, P < 0.001), Delta6MWT distance (83.5 vs. 2.0 m, P = 0.001) improved DeltaSAS (8 vs. 1 patient, P = 0.008), and HQoL: Delta domains vitality (7.5 vs. 0 points, P = 0.013), Delta emotional aspects (16.7 vs. 0 points, P = 0.012), and Delta mental health (16.1 vs. 0 points, P = 0.031). There was no difference in BNP levels.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with ChC, exercise training was associated with a major improvement in functional capacity and HQoL without any adverse effects.
Lima
Márcia M O
MM
Post-Graduation in Infectology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Rocha
Manoel Otávio C
MO
Nunes
Maria Carmo P
MC
Sousa
Lidiane
L
Costa
Henrique S
HS
Alencar
Maria Clara N
MC
Britto
Raquel R
RR
Ribeiro
Antonio Luiz P
AL
D000328:Adult; D002598:Chagas Cardiomyopathy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain