@entity712 ( @entity712 ) is a growing public health problem. Current guidelines provide detailed information regarding pharmacotherapy but little guidance about the value of exercise/cardiac rehabilitation programmes for individuals with this condition. To investigate the effects of exercise training upon CHF @entity1 , a systematic literature review was carried out of trials (from 1966 to December 2000) which used as their main outcome measures the effects of exercise training upon: (a) physical performance; or (b) quality of life; or (c) morbidity/mortality. Databases searched include: MedLine; Science Citation Index; Social Sciences Citation Index; BIDS, Bandolier; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR); NHS National Research Register (NRR); and Current Research in Britain (CRIB). Relevant bibliographic references from identified articles were also reviewed. Thirty-one trials were identified, comprising randomised controlled trials (RCTs) (14/31), randomised crossover trials (8/31), non-RCTs (2/31), and pre-test/post-test (7/31). Sample sizes were: 25 @entity1 or fewer (20/31); 26 to 50 @entity1 (7/31); 51 to 150 @entity1 (4/31). @entity1 were predominantly younger with a mean age in 23/31 studies of 65 years or less, and male. @entity1 with comorbidities were often excluded. Positive effects were reported on physical performance (27/31), quality of life (11/16), mortality (1/31), and readmission rates (1/31). No cost-effectiveness analyses were identfied. We conclude that short-term physical exercise training in selected subgroups of @entity1 with CHF has physiological benefits and positive effects on quality of life. This review highlights the continuing problem of clinical trials that include @entity1 who are not representative of the general population of CHF @entity1 seen in primary care. Further investigation of the utility and applicability of exercise training is essential.

Exercise training and XXXX : a systematic review of current evidence.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'Patients', 'patients', 'Participants'] @entity712 :: ('MESH:D006333', 'Disease') :: ['CHEF', 'Chronic heart failure']
@entity712 :: (MESH:D006333,Disease) :: ['heart failure']
