title: Effects of home-based exercise training for patients with chronic heart failure and sleep apnoea: a randomized comparison of two different programmes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of home-based exercise for patients with chronic heart failure and sleep apnoea and to compare two different training programmes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, prospective controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty chronic heart failure patients with sleep apnoea were randomized in three groups: Group 1 (aerobic training, n = 18), Group 2 (aerobic with strength training, n = 18), and Group 3 (untrained, n = 14).
  
  
  METHODS
  The training programme for Groups 1 and 2 began with three supervised exercise sessions, after they underwent three months of home-based exercise. Patients were followed by weekly telephone call and were reviewed monthly. Group 3 had the status of physical activity evaluated weekly by interview to make sure they remained untrained.
  
  
  METHODS
  At baseline and after three months: cardiopulmonary exercise testing, isokinetic strength and endurance, Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire and polysomnography. Adherence was evaluated weekly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 50 patients enrolled in the study, 45 completed the programme. Clinical events: Group 1 (one death), Group 2 (one myocardial infarction), Group 3 (one death and two strokes). None were training related. Training groups showed improvement in all outcomes evaluated and the adherence was an important factor (Group 1 = 98.5% and Group 2 = 100.2%, P = 0.743). Untrained Group 3 demonstrated significant decrease or no change on measurements after three months without training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Home-based exercise training is an important therapeutic strategy in chronic heart failure patients with sleep apnoea, and strength training resulted in a higher increase in muscle strength and endurance.
authors.affiliation: São Paulo Federal University, Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. dmsfisio@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Denise Maria
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Servantes
authors.forename: Amália
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelcerman
authors.forename: Xiomara Miranda
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Salvetti
authors.forename: Ana Fátima
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Salles
authors.forename: Pedro Ferreira
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque
authors.forename: Fernando Cezar Alves
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: de Salles
authors.forename: Cleide
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Marco Túlio
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: de Mello
authors.forename: Dirceu Rodrigues
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Japy Angelini Oliveira
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Filho
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D015897:Comorbidity; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000534:rehabilitation*