Clinical trial NCT01071629: Exercise Training Effects in Patients With Heart Failure
Official title: Aerobic Interval Training Versus Combined Aerobic Interval Training and Strength Training Effects in Patients With Heart Failure
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Chronic Heart Failure
Keywords: interval training
strength training
exercise capacity
chronic heart failure
Cardiac rehabilitation
Lead sponsor: University of Athens
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2010-02-19
Enrollment: 40
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 80
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common syndrome characterized by several central hemodynamic and peripheral vascular and muscle abnormalities including autonomic imbalance, neuro-hormonal over-activation and decreased oxidative status.

In patients suffering from CHF, exercise confers several beneficial effects on the cardiovascular and peripheral systems, mainly by continuous aerobic training. However, interval aerobic training has also been validated as an alternate form of training that increases the exercise capacity of patients who are in CHF.

Recent studies have suggested that resistance training alone or as a complementary program besides the traditionally aerobic continuous training might exert favorable effects. However, little it is known about the combined effects of interval and strength training in CHF patients.

Aim of this prospective randomized controlled study was to investigate the effects of combined interval and strength training comparing to interval training alone in CHF patients.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Stable systolic heart failure
* NYHA functional class ≤ III
* Optimal medical treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

* Contraindications for a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) according to the American Thoracic Society/American College of Chest Physicians Statement
* Moderate to severe COPD

Primary outcomes:
measure: Aerobic exercise capacity
timeFrame: 3 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Endothelial function, oxygen kinetics, ventilatory drive
timeFrame: 3 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Athens
country: Greece
facility: Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing & Rehabilitation Laboratory, First Critical Care Unit, School of Medicine, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Athens
name: Serafim Nanas, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Anagnostakou V, Chatzimichail K, Dimopoulos S, Karatzanos E, Papazachou O, Tasoulis A, Anastasiou-Nana M, Roussos C, Nanas S. Effects of interval cycle training with or without strength training on vascular reactivity in heart failure patients. J Card Fail. 2011 Jul;17(7):585-91. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2011.02.009. Epub 2011 Apr 22.
citation: Tasoulis A, Papazachou O, Dimopoulos S, Gerovasili V, Karatzanos E, Kyprianou T, Drakos S, Anastasiou-Nana M, Roussos C, Nanas S. Effects of interval exercise training on respiratory drive in patients with chronic heart failure. Respir Med. 2010 Oct;104(10):1557-65. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2010.03.009.
citation: Bouchla A, Karatzanos E, Dimopoulos S, Tasoulis A, Agapitou V, Diakos N, Tseliou E, Terrovitis J, Nanas S. The addition of strength training to aerobic interval training: effects on muscle strength and body composition in CHF patients. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2011 Jan-Feb;31(1):47-51. doi: 10.1097/HCR.0b013e3181e174d7.
citation: Gerovasili V, Drakos S, Kravari M, Malliaras K, Karatzanos E, Dimopoulos S, Tasoulis A, Anastasiou-Nana M, Roussos C, Nanas S. Physical exercise improves the peripheral microcirculation of patients with chronic heart failure. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2009 Nov-Dec;29(6):385-91. doi: 10.1097/HCR.0b013e3181b4ca4e.
citation: M.Kravari, I. Vasileiadis, V. Gerovasili, E. Karatzanos, A. Tasoulis, K. Kalligras, S. Drakos, S. Dimopoulos, M. Anastasiou-Nana, S. Nanas. Effects of a 3-month rehabilitation program on muscle oxygenation in congestive heart failure patients as assessed by NIRS. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 40(2): 212-217, 2010