What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and mild heart failure (HF) (n=20). Intervention: Exercise training vs. Non-trained control. Primary outcome: Myocardial oxidative metabolism and efficiency.

April 23, 2026Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Exercise training improves biventricular oxidative metabolism and left ventricular efficiency in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

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Key result

5-month exercise training in DCM linked to improved exercise capacity, EF, and LV efficiency vs controls.

n=20

Why the study?

Exercise training improves exercise tolerance and quality of life in chronic HF, but little is known about how it influences myocardial energetics.

Does a five-month exercise training program improve myocardial oxidative metabolism and efficiency in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and mild heart failure?

Comparison

Five-month exercise training program vs non-trained control

Design

Prospective comparative study

Follow-up

Five months

Authors

KSKira Q. StolenGentofte Hospital JKJukka KemppainenUniversity of Turku HUHeikki UkkonenHeart Failure & Transplant

Discussion

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Implication

Hypothesis-generating for exercise effects on DCM efficiency; randomized trials needed before clinical adoption.

Key Points

This study aims to evaluate the effect of exercise training on myocardial oxidative metabolism and efficiency in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and mild heart failure.
Twenty patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were divided into a training group (n=9) and a control group (n=11).
Participants in the training group completed a five-month exercise program, while the control group did not.
Measurements included oxidative metabolism using PET and echocardiography to calculate myocardial work power.
The training group showed significant improvements in exercise capacity (VO2) and ejection fraction, whereas the control group exhibited no changes.
Exercise training resulted in reduced oxidative metabolism in both ventricles and significantly enhanced left ventricular forward work efficiency.
No notable differences were observed in the control group, indicating the specific benefits of exercise training.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=20)

Structured PICO

Does a five-month exercise training program improve myocardial oxidative metabolism and efficiency in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and mild heart failure?

Population

20 clinically stable patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and mild heart failure (New York Heart Association classes I through III)

Intervention

Five-month exercise training program

Comparator

Non-trained control group

Outcome

Myocardial oxidative metabolism in both the right and left ventricles (measured using [(11)C]acetate and positron emission tomography) and myocardial efficiency for forward worksurrogate

A five-month exercise training program improves exercise tolerance, left ventricular function, and myocardial energetic efficiency in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Cite This Study

Stolen et al. (2003) conducted a cohort in Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and mild heart failure (HF) (n=20). Exercise training vs. Non-trained control was evaluated on Myocardial oxidative metabolism and efficiency. A 5-month exercise training program improved exercise capacity and ejection fraction, reduced biventricular oxidative metabolism, and increased LV forward work efficiency in patients with DCM.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69ea8cc4afaea9b2b527002e https://doi.org/10.1016/s0735-1097(02)02772-9

Topics

Heart failure HFrEF treatment Echocardiography

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Exercise training improves biventricular oxidative metabolism and left ventricular efficiency in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Topics

Exercise training improves biventricular oxidative metabolism and left ventricular efficiency in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

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Topics

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