Key result
Nordic walking significantly improved peak oxygen consumption compared to conventional cardiac rehabilitation or usual care (MD 2.18 mL/kg/min; 95% CI 1.35–3.01; p<0.01).
Why the study?
Nordic walking benefits various chronic diseases, but whether it improves function in heart failure with low left ventricular ejection fraction more than conventional cardiac rehabilitation or usual care remained unclear.
Does Nordic walking improve functional capacity (peak VO2 and 6MWT) in patients with chronic heart failure with low left ventricular ejection fraction compared to conventional cardiac rehabilitation or usual care?
Meta-Analysis (n=282)
Does Nordic walking improve functional capacity (peak VO2 and 6MWT) in patients with chronic heart failure with low left ventricular ejection fraction compared to conventional cardiac rehabilitation or usual care?
Mean Difference: 2.18 (95% CI 1.35–3.01)
p-value: p=< .01
Nordic walking significantly improves peak oxygen consumption and 6-minute walk test distance in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction compared to conventional cardiac rehabilitation or usual care.
Nordic walking improves peak VO2 and 6MWT in HFrEF versus standard care; extends RCT evidence for exercise in systolic HF.
Background Nordic walking (NW) has been reported to be beneficial in various chronic diseases. Objective To determine whether NW improves function in patients with heart failure (HF) with low left ventricular ejection fraction more than conventional cardiac rehabilitation or usual care. Methods Systematic literature searches in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science were conducted. According to patient, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) principles, a stepwise selection process was completed to identify eligible studies. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this systematic review and meta‐analysis. Pooled effects were determined using a random effect analysis model for the meta‐analysis. Results A total of 282 participants from four RCTs were included. The improvement of peak oxygen consumption (peak VO 2 ) was greater in the NW group than in the control group (mean difference [MD] = 2.18 mL/kg/min; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.35–3.01; p < .01). The improvement of the 6‐minute walk test (6MWT) distance was also greater in the NW group than in the control group (MD = 16.51 meters; 95% CI = 3.23–29.80; p = .01). Conclusion This systematic review highlights the benefits of NW training in patients with chronic HF, particularly those with systolic dysfunction. Specifically, NW walking was associated with increased peak VO 2 and 6MWT improvement compared to conventional cardiac rehabilitation or usual care. These results suggest that NW may be a useful component of cardiac rehabilitation. However, additional larger studies with a wider range of patients are needed.
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Dhamayanti et al. (2024) conducted a meta-analysis in chronic heart failure with low left ventricular ejection fraction (n=282). Nordic walking vs. conventional cardiac rehabilitation or usual care was evaluated on peak oxygen consumption (peak VO 2) (MD 2.18, 95% CI 1.35-3.01, p=< .01). Nordic walking significantly improved peak oxygen consumption compared to conventional cardiac rehabilitation or usual care (MD 2.18 mL/kg/min; 95% CI 1.35–3.01; p<0.01).
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