Different Continuous Training Intensities Improve Echocardiographic Parameters, Quality of Life, and Functional Capacity in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction

Heba A Abdeen; Zeinab M Helmy; Moustafa I Elnaggar; Monira I Aldhahi; Mona Mohamed Taha; Elena Marques-Sule; Doaa I Amin; Bassem S Ibrahim; Ahmed Abdel Aziz; Vincenzo Castiglione; Hady Atef

doi:10.2147/IJGM.S420933

Different Continuous Training Intensities Improve Echocardiographic Parameters, Quality of Life, and Functional Capacity in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction

Int J Gen Med. 2023 Aug 30:16:3933-3945. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S420933. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiovascular/Respiratory Disorder and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, 11432, Egypt.
² Faculty of Physical Therapy, Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, Giza, Egypt.
³ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Physiotherapy in Motion, Multispeciality Research Group (PTinMOTION), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
⁵ Basic Science Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
⁶ Cardiology, National Heart Institute, Giza, Egypt.
⁷ Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio; "Health Science" Interdisciplinary Research Center, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.
⁸ School of Allied Health Professions (SAHP), Keele University, Staffordshire, UK.

Abstract

Background: Multiple comorbidities and physiological changes play a role in a range of heart failure conditions and influence the most effective approach to exercise-based rehabilitation. This research aimed to examine and compare the outcomes of continuous training at three different intensities, focusing on left ventricular (LV) remodeling, functional capacity, and quality of life among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods: In this randomized control trial, a total of 60 male patients (average age: 54.33 ±2.35 years) with HFrEF were randomly allocated into three groups: 1) High-intensity continuous training group (HICT), 2) Moderate-intensity continuous training group (MICT), and 3) Low-intensity continuous training group (LICT). All the training was performed on a bicycle ergometer 3 times/week for 12 weeks. Echocardiographic parameters (left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, left ventricular end-systolic dimension, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), quality of life (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire), and functional capacity (6-minute walking test) were assessed before and the end of the study.

Results: The HICT group demonstrated the greatest improvements in all measured variables when compared to the other two groups (P < 0.05). These findings were consistent across all measured outcomes.

Conclusion: It was determined that HICT appears to yield the most favorable outcomes in enhancing echocardiographic measures, NT-proBNP levels, quality of life, and functional capacity among HFrEF patients.

Keywords: aerobic exercises; heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; quality of life; ventricular remodeling.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2023R 286), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.