Home-based physical activity intervention (Active-at-Home-HF) improves left atrial function, exercise duration and quality of life in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence regarding the effect of physical activity interventions on exercise tolerance, left ventricular (LV) filling pressure, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This study assessed the acceptability, feasibility, and physiological outcome of a novel, personalised, home-based physical activity intervention in HFpEF. METHODS: =15, four male) for 12 weeks. Before and after 12 weeks, patients underwent supervised exercise stress test on treadmill, and assessment of exercise stress echocardiography, QoL (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire) and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) were also assessed before and after intervention. All patients were monitored weekly via telephone and pedometers. There were no adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: In this study of HFpEF patients, a 12-week personalised home-based physical activity intervention is feasible, acceptable, safe, improves LA function, exercise duration and QoL and may improve LV filling pressures.