Effects of a home-based exercise program on clinical outcomes in heart failure

Kathleen Dracup, Lorraine S. Evangelista, Michele A. Hamilton, Virginia Erickson, Antoine Hage, Jamie Moriguchi, Cheryl Canary, W. Robb MacLellan, Gregg C. Fonarow

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a home-based exercise program on clinical outcomes. Exercise training improves exercise capacity in patients with heart failure (HF) but the long-term effects on clinical outcomes remain unknown. Methods: We randomized 173 patients with systolic HF to control (n = 87) or home-based exercise (n = 86). The primary end point was a composite of all-cause hospitalizations, emergency department admissions, urgent transplantation, and death at 12 months. Functional performance (as assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing and the 6-minute walk test), quality of life, and psychological states were measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: There was no significant difference between experimental and control groups in the combined clinical end point at 12 months and in functional status, quality of life, or psychological states over 6 months. Patients in the exercise group had a lower incidence of multiple (2 or more) hospitalizations compared with the control group: 12.8% versus 26.6%, respectively (P = .018). Conclusions: A home-based walking program that incorporated aerobic and resistance exercise did not result in improved clinical outcomes at 1-year follow-up in this cohort of patients with systolic HF. However, the exercise program resulted in reduced rehospitalization rates.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)877-883
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Heart Journal
Volume154
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2007
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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