title: A group-based exercise program did not improve physical activity in patients with chronic heart failure and comorbidity: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate how group-based exercise affects the levels of physical activity, physical fitness and health- related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic heart failure and comorbidities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 48 patients (10 women, 38 men), mean age 71 years (standard deviation 8 years), ejection fraction 27% (standard deviation 10%), and New York Heart Association functional class II-III.
  
  
  METHODS
  A bicycle test, 6-min walk test (6MWT) and muscle endurance tests were performed. Physical activity was assessed with a pedometer and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), HRQoL was evaluated with the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Patients were randomized to control or intervention groups. Intervention consisted of an individually designed group-based exercise programme twice a week, for a period of 3 months. Subjects in the control group were asked to continue with their usual lives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 42 patients completed the study, and 6 dropped-out. Steps/day did not increase significantly after intervention (p = 0.351), but IPAQ score did (p = 0.008). Exercise tolerance (p = 0.001), 6MWT (p = 0.014), shoulder abduction (p = 0.028), heel lift (p < 0.0001) and HRQoL (p = 0.018) improved significantly in the intervention group compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Group-based exercise did not improve the level of physical activity in patients with chronic heart failure and comorbidity; however, physical fitness and HRQoL were significantly improved.
authors.affiliation: NärRehab Physiotherapy Unit, Primary Healt Care, , Alings8s, Sweden. maria.borland@vgregion.se.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borland
authors.forename: Agneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosenkvist
authors.forename: Asa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cider
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires