Key result
Cardiac rehabilitation is linked to a ~113-meter increase in 6-minute walk distance in older HF patients.
Why the study?
Heart failure is associated with exercise intolerance, functional decline, and frequent hospitalization. While cardiac rehabilitation improves functional capacity, the double product remains a relevant marker of hemodynamic response to evaluate across rehabilitation phases.
Does completion of a 36-session outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program improve 6-minute walk test functional capacity and alter double product hemodynamic response in older adults (≥60 years) with heart failure?
Cohort (n=79)
No
Does completion of a 36-session outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program improve 6-minute walk test functional capacity and alter double product hemodynamic response in older adults (≥60 years) with heart failure?
In older patients with heart failure completing a 36-session outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program, 6-minute walk distance improved by a median of 113 m alongside phase-dependent increases in double product during advanced training phases.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support CR referral for functional gains in older HF; leaves open causal effects on hard outcomes in RCTs.
Introduction Heart failure (HF) is associated with exercise intolerance, functional decline and frequent hospitalization. Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves functional capacity, the double product (DP) remains a relevant marker of hemodynamic response. Methods This retrospective observational study included 79 patients older than 60 years with HF, who completed an outpatient CR program between 2017 and 2023. Functional capacity was assessed with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) at baseline and after Phase IV, including distance walked, estimated VO 2 and metabolic equivalents (METs). DP and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed during sessions across Phases II–IV. Baseline and final 6MWT changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and DP with repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results Most participants were male (63.3%) and had a high comorbidity burden, mainly hypertension (62%), coronary heart disease (57%) and sedentary lifestyle (55.7%). Significant improvements were observed between baseline and final 6MWT assessments: distance increased from 419 m to 523 m, estimated VO 2 from 10.5 mL/kg/minute to 12.2 mL/kg/minute and METs from 3.0 to 3.5 ( p < 0.001). RPE increased slightly from 11 to 12 ( p = 0.003). DP showed no overall differences across phases ( p = 0.600), but significant effects of time and phase-by-time interaction were found (both p < 0.001). No significant change was observed in Phase II, whereas significant increases occurred in Phases III and IV. Conclusion CR was associated with improved functional capacity in patients with HF. DP changes varied across phases and may help monitor exercise response. Controlled prospective studies are needed to confirm causality.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Gómez et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Heart failure (n=79). 36-session outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program (Phases II–IV) vs. Baseline (pre-rehabilitation within-subject comparison) was evaluated on 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance (m) (Median change 113.00 m (rank-biserial r 0.997), 95% CI 100.00-137.00, p=<0.001). Cardiac rehabilitation was associated with a median 113 m increase in 6-minute walk distance (from 419 m to 523 m, p<0.001) in older patients with heart failure.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: