Key result
A systematic review of 69 trials suggests exercise interventions in heart failure yield favorable physiological responses that might slow disease progression, despite small sample sizes.
Why the study?
Do exercise interventions improve physiological parameters and quality of life in patients with heart failure?
Systematic Review
Do exercise interventions improve physiological parameters and quality of life in patients with heart failure?
Exercise interventions in heart failure patients elicit favorable physiological responses that may slow disease progression, though current evidence is limited by small, heterogeneous trials.
Supports exercise as adjunct in heart failure; extends physiological data but limited by small heterogeneous trials.
The incidence of heart failure (HF) is increasing as the population ages. Pharmacotherapy is an important component of treatment and yields significant improvements in survival and quality of life. In recent decades, exercise has gradually become accepted as an intervention beneficial to patients with HF, but more information is needed to clarify the effects of exercise and optimize interventions. Therefore, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials published from 1966 to October 2006 was carried out via PubMed. About 69 trials were reviewed, which used as main outcome measures: (a) central hemodynamic parameters, (b) peripheral blood flow, (c) endothelial function, (d) activation of neurohormones and cytokine systems, (e) structure of and metabolism in skeletal muscles, and/or (f) quality of life. Study findings suggest that the favorable physiological responses to exercise might slow some of the pathophysiological progression of HF. However, most of the trials reviewed here were based on relatively small samples and selected participant groups, and the exercise programs varied widely. These limitations and inconsistencies need to be addressed through further studies. Furthermore, reliable strategies for maintaining the positive effects of exercise and extending them to patients' daily life and quality of life are scarce in these trials. These domains need further exploration through rationally designed, large-scale randomized controlled trials.
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Tai et al. (2008) conducted a systematic review in Heart failure. Exercise interventions was evaluated on Central hemodynamic parameters, peripheral blood flow, endothelial function, activation of neurohormones and cytokine systems, structure of and metabolism in skeletal muscles, and/or quality of life. A systematic review of 69 trials suggests exercise interventions in heart failure yield favorable physiological responses that might slow disease progression, despite small sample sizes.
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