Exercise training in elderly heart failure patients significantly increased 6-minute walking distance by 50.05 m (95% CI 28.37-71.73) but had no significant effect on mortality or hospitalizations.
Meta-Analysis (n=530)
Does exercise training improve clinical outcomes, exercise capacity, and quality of life in elderly patients with chronic heart failure?
Exercise training in elderly heart failure patients improves 6-minute walking distance and generic quality of life, but does not significantly affect mortality or hospitalizations.
Effect estimate: Increase of 50.05 m (95% CI 28.37-71.73)
OBJECTIVES: It is unclear whether exercise training is effective and safe for elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to systematically analyse the completed trials assessing the safety and efficacy of exercise training in elderly patients with heart failure. METHODS: We searched electronic databases up to September 2012 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating exercise training in the elderly heart failure patients (≥ 60 years). The safety and efficacy of exercise training were assessed by all-cause mortality, hospitalisations, 6-min walking distance (6MWD), peakVO2 and/or health-related quality of life (HRQoL). RESULTS: Seven prospective RCTs were included with a total of 530 patients, and the patients' mean age ranged from 70 to 81 years. The majority were male, low-to-medium risk and New York Heart Association class II and III with a left ventricular ejection fraction of < 45%. Exercise training increased the 6MWD significantly by 50.05 m (95% CI: 28.37-71.73) and improved generic HRQoL (95% CI: 0.06-0.18). There was no significant difference in mortality, hospitalisations, peakVO2 and disease-specific HRQoL between exercise group and control group. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly CHF patients (mean age 70-81), exercise training increase 6MWD and improve generic HRQoL, but has no effects on mortality, hospitalisations, peakVO2 and disease-specific HRQoL. The long-term efficacy and safety of exercise training in elderly heart failure patients require further study based on large and rational-designed controlled clinical trials.
Chen et al. (Thu,) conducted a meta-analysis in Chronic heart failure (n=530). Exercise training vs. Control was evaluated on 6-min walking distance (6MWD) (Increase of 50.05 m, 95% CI 28.37-71.73). Exercise training in elderly heart failure patients significantly increased 6-minute walking distance by 50.05 m (95% CI 28.37-71.73) but had no significant effect on mortality or hospitalizations.