title: Effects of walking on heart rate recovery, endothelium modulators and quality of life in patients with heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have addressed the impact of moderate unsupervised everyday physical activity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the effects of a 12-week walking programme as the sole exercise intervention on heart rate recovery (HRR), index of the autonomic system equilibrium, serum modulators of endothelial function (i.e. asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and homocysteine), markers of inflammation and oxidative stress and quality of life measures (i.e. SF-36 and the Zung depression scale) in CHF patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight stabilized CHF patients of ΝYHΑ class II and III volunteered to participate either in the exercise (n = 18) or in the non-exercise (n = 10) groups. Ten age-matched healthy volunteers provided reference values. The exercise programme consisted of unsupervised 40-minute walking for five days per week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant improvements in HRR (p < 0.001) in the exercise patients compared to their non-exercise counterparts. ADMA levels in CHF patients at baseline were found higher than the healthy reference volunteers (p < 0.03), while a decrease in ADMA levels after walking was associated with HRR changes (r = 0.74, p = 0.007). Homocysteine levels both at baseline and at the end of the walking intervention decreased in the exercise group, but were still higher than in the healthy individuals. Average walking distance positively correlated with homocysteine decrease (p < 0.05). Total SF-36 score significantly improved (p < 0.02) mainly due to enhancements in the physical component score (p < 0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 12-week unsupervised walking programme exhibits a pronounced HRR amelioration, possibly attenuates endothelial damage and induces a concomitant improvement in perceived quality of life in CHF patients.
authors: 'Amalia Fleming' General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Tsarouhas
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Karatzaferi
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Tsitsimpikou
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Haliassos
authors: Demetrios
authors: D
authors: Kouretas
authors: Pavlos
authors: P
authors: Pavlidis
authors: Aristidis
authors: A
authors: Veskoukis
authors: Stamatis
authors: S
authors: Adamopoulos
authors: Zenon
authors: Z
authors: Kyriakides
authors: Louis
authors: L
authors: Constantinou
authors: Yannis
authors: Y
authors: Koutedakis
authors: Elias
authors: E
authors: Rentoukas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D006710:Homocysteine; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine