title: Home-based exercise improves the quality of life and physical function but not the psychological status of people with chronic heart failure: a randomised trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Are anxiety and depression correlated with physical function, disability, and quality of life in people with chronic heart failure? Does 8 weeks of home-based exercise improve anxiety, depression, physical function, disability, and quality of life in these patients? Do the changes in these outcomes correlate?
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  51 people with clinically stable chronic heart failure were randomised into an experimental group (n=24) or a control group (n=27).
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental group undertook an individualised home-based exercise program, 30 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks, with regular telephone follow-up and consultations. The control group maintained their usual activity during this period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, six-minute walk test, Groningen Activity Restriction Scale, and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire were administered at baseline and 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, anxiety and depression were inversely moderately correlated with walking distance, activity, and quality of life. Compared with controls, the experimental group improved significantly more in their walking distance (by 21m, 95% CI 7 to 36) and their quality of life (by 7 points on the 105-point Minnesota score, 95% CI 1 to 12). In the experimental group, the changes in quality of life correlated moderately strongly with changes in anxiety (r=0.539, p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anxiety and depression were associated with physical function, disability, and quality of life in people with chronic heart failure. Home-based exercise improved quality of life and physical function significantly but not psychological status in these patients.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chen-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Chii-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yen-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ying-Tai
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires