Home-based exercise increased exercise capacity safely but did not improve quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure .
It could therefore be used to improve the management of people with chronic heart failure who do not have access to hospital-based exercise
QUESTIONS Does home-based exercise improve exercise capacity and quality of life in people with chronic heart failure ?
Is it safe ?
Effects of exercise training in patients with heart failure: the Exercise Rehabilitation Trial (EXERT).
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise training on functional capacity in patients with heart failure . METHODS One hundred eighty-one patients in New York Heart Association class I to III , with ejection fraction < 40 % and 6-minute walk distance < 500 meters , were recruited into a r and omized , controlled , single-blind trial comparing 3 months of supervised training , then 9 months of home-based training with usual care . RESULTS There was a significant increase in 6-minute walk distance at 3 and 12 months but no between-group differences . Incremental peak oxygen uptake increased in the exercise group compared with the control group at 3 months ( 0.104 + /- 0.026 L/min vs 0.025 + /- 0.023 L/min ; P = .026 ) and 12 months ( 0.154 + /- 0.074 L/min vs 0.024 + /- 0.027 L/min ; P = .081 ) . Compared with the control group , significant increases were observed in the exercise group for arm and leg strength . No significant changes were observed in cardiac function or quality of life . Adherence to exercise was good during supervised training but reduced during home-based training . CONCLUSIONS Exercise training improves peak oxygen uptake and strength during supervised training . Over the final 9 months of the study , there was little further improvement , suggesting that some supervision is required for these patients . There were no adverse effects on cardiac function or clinical events
Home-based exercise increased exercise capacity safely but did not improve quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure .
It could therefore be used to improve the management of people with chronic heart failure who do not have access to hospital-based exercise
QUESTIONS Does home-based exercise improve exercise capacity and quality of life in people with chronic heart failure ?
Is it safe ?