Exercise training program characteristics and magnitude of change in functional capacity of heart failure patients

Author(s)
Ismail, Hashbullah
McFarlane, James R
Dieberg, Gudrun
Smart, Neil A
Publication Date
2014
Abstract
Background: Intuitively higher exercise program volume may be the primary stimulus for physical adaptation. We sought to establish if aerobic exercise training program characteristics produced different effect sizes for change in cardiorespiratory fitness in heart failure patients. Methods: We conducted a MEDLINE search (1966 to 2012), for exercise based rehabilitation trials in heart failure, using the search terms 'exercise training, left ventricular dysfunction, peak VO₂, cardio-myopathy and systolic heart dysfunction'. Forty seven studies were included, producing 54 intervention groups; 3 (6%) were high-, 29 (54%) vigorous-, 20 (37%) moderate- and 2 (3%) low- intensity groups, providing a total of 2285 exercising subjects and 2098 control subjects, totaling 4383 participants. Results: Peak VO₂ increased by a mean difference of 3.3 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ [95% CI 0.53 to 6.13, p = 0.02] with high intensity training in exercise groups versus control, equating to a 23% improvement from baseline. The corresponding data for vigorous, moderate and low intensity were 8%, 13%; and 7% respectively. Weekly exercise energy expenditure > 460 kcal was associated with a mean difference in peak VO₂ of 2.6 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ [95% CI 1.88 to 3.28, p < 0.00001]. Conclusions: Our data suggest that high-intensity exercise, achieving at least 460 kcal weekly energy expenditure may elicit the greatest changes in cardiorespiratory fitness.
Citation
International Journal of Cardiology, 171(1), p. 62-65
ISSN
1874-1754
0167-5273
Link
Publisher
Elsevier Ireland Ltd
Title
Exercise training program characteristics and magnitude of change in functional capacity of heart failure patients
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication

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