Key result
Tailored exercise training improves cardiopulmonary capacity and slows physical decline in frail older HF patients.
Why the study?
Exercise training remains underutilised in older patients with heart failure and frailty, and guidelines on the optimal exercise intervention for this population are lacking.
Does exercise training improve outcomes in older patients with heart failure and frailty?
Does exercise training improve outcomes in older patients with heart failure and frailty?
Despite current guidelines lacking specific recommendations, individualized exercise training is a beneficial strategy to address both exercise intolerance and frailty in older patients with heart failure.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports tailored exercise in frail older HF patients; leaves open RCT confirmation to guide specific recommendations.
The benefits of exercise in older patients with heart failure (HF) and frailty are twofold: (i) improvement in cardiopulmonary capacity, thus reducing HF-related sequelae; (ii) attenuation of decline in physical function, thus improving frailty status. Despite the clear benefits, exercise training (ET) remains underutilised as a treatment modality in this patient population. Guidelines on the specific type of exercise intervention best suited for this population are still lacking. In this review, we discuss (i) pathophysiology underlying exercise intolerance in patients with HF; (ii) impact of frailty on HF and exercise capacity; (iii) benefits and safety of ET; (iv) recommended ET programme for this population; (v) mode of delivery and (vi) potential barriers in the uptake of ET and strategies to overcome them. An effective ET intervention in this population warrants individualisation to patient’s physical capacity, while addressing possible barriers to uptake so as to ensure sustained participation in the programme.
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Krishnan et al. (2026) conducted a review in Heart failure and frailty. Exercise training was evaluated. Exercise training in older patients with heart failure and frailty improves cardiopulmonary capacity and attenuates physical decline, though an effective intervention requires individualization.
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