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

Abstract

Heba A Abdeen,1 Zeinab M Helmy,1 Moustafa I Elnaggar,2 Monira I Aldhahi,3 Mona Mohamed Taha,3 Elena Marques-Sule,4 Doaa I Amin,5 Bassem S Ibrahim,6 Ahmed Abdel Aziz,6 Vincenzo Castiglione,7 Hady Atef1,8 1Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiovascular/Respiratory Disorder and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, 11432, Egypt; 2Faculty of Physical Therapy, Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, Giza, Egypt; 3Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia; 4Physiotherapy in Motion, Multispeciality Research Group (PTinMOTION), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; 5Basic Science Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 6Cardiology, National Heart Institute, Giza, Egypt; 7Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio; “Health Science” Interdisciplinary Research Center, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy; 8School of Allied Health Professions (SAHP), Keele University, Staffordshire, UKCorrespondence: Mona Mohamed Taha, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia, Tel [phone], Email [email protected]: 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: heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, aerobic exercises, ventricular remodeling, quality of life

Keywords

• heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
• aerobic exercises
• ventricular remodeling
• quality of life.