Studies on the long-term effects of exercise training programs on functional capacity
and the quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are sparse. The
aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of group-based, high-intensity
interval training on functional capacity and the quality of life in 80 patients with
stable CHF (mean age 70.1 ± 7.9 years) in New York Heart Association classes II to
IIIB. Patients were randomized to either an exercise group (n = 40) or a control group
(n = 40). The mean ejection fractions at baseline were 31 ± 8% in the exercise group
and 31 ± 1% in the control group. The exercise group exercised twice a week for 4
months in addition to 4 consultations with a CHF nurse. Six-minute walking distance,
workload and exercise time on a cycle ergometer test, and the quality of life were
measured at baseline and 4 and 12 months after enrollment. After 4 months, functional
capacity (6-minute walking distance +58 vs −15 m, p <0.001) and the quality of life
(Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire score +10 vs −1 point, p <0.005)
improved significantly in the exercise group compared with the control group. After
12 months, the improvements were still significant in the exercise group compared
with the control group for all parameters (6-minute walking distance +41 vs −20 m,
p <0.001; workload +10 vs −1 W, p = 0.001; exercise time +53 vs −6 seconds, p = 0.003;
quality of life +10 vs −6 points, p = 0.003). In conclusion, the results support the
implementation of a group-based aerobic interval training program to improve long-term
effects on functional capacity and the quality of life in patients with CHF.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 01, 2008
Accepted:
June 30,
2008
Received in revised form:
June 30,
2008
Received:
March 13,
2008
Footnotes
This study was supported by grants from the Eastern Norwegian Health Authority, the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation, and the Center for Clinical Research, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
