Effects of continuous physical training on exercise tolerance and left ventricular myocardial function in patients with heart failure

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Physical training is an important method in the rehabilitation programme for cardiovascular patients. Nevertheless, some controversies about physical training in patients with heart failure still exist. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of continuous physical training on exercise tolerance, ejection fraction and regional systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) myocardial function in patients with stable heart failure. METHOD: The study involved 48 male patients with stable heart failure and LV ejection fraction < or =35% determined by echocardiography. At the end of a two-week residential rehabilitation programme, the patients were divided in two groups. The group of 27 patients (T group) continued with regular physical training (4 to 5 times weekly) during 6 months, while 21 patients (K group) did not have regular physical training. In all patients, the exercise test and echocardiography studies were performed after residential rehabilitation and 6 months later. Regional myocardial function of LV was evaluated by the pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging. RESULTS: After 6 months, an increase in exercise tolerance was more significant in T group. LV ejection fraction increased significantly (p < 0.05) only in T group. After six months, in T group, regional systolic (p < 0.01) and diastolic (p < 0.005) myocardial function improved significantly, while in K group a significant improvement was seen only for regional diastolic function (p < 0.05), and it was less than in T group. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that continuous physical training during the period of 6 months in patients with stable heart failure induced significant improvement of exercise tolerance, ejection fraction and regional systolic and diastolic LV myocardial function.