The safety of exercise for older patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing conservative management: A narrative review

Abstract

The incidence of aortic stenosis (AS) increases with age and is a serious problem in an aging society. In recent years, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been performed widely; however, older patients may be ineligible for TAVI or surgical treatment because of medical ineligibility. Symptom-based rehabilitation is required for these patients to maintain and improve their physical function and ability to perform activities of daily living. No studies have examined exercise safety for older patients with severe AS who are ineligible for TAVI or surgery. We summarized the safety of exercise for older patients with severe AS, collecting 7 studies on maximal exercise stress tests and 16 studies on preoperative physical examinations. From this review, it may be unlikely that exercise under appropriate management can cause hemodynamic changes, leading to death. However, there were no studies on exercise intervention for older patients with AS who are chosen for conservative management. The optimal exercise intensity for symptomatic older patients with AS undergoing conservative management and the effects of continuous exercise intervention require future study.

Keywords: activities of daily living; aortic valve stenosis; conservative management; rehabilitation; symptomatic.