Article

OBJECTIVE: To assess exercise capacity and left ventricular function using
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) among patients with chronic heart failure
randomized to a residential rehabilitation programme at baseline and six years
after participation. DESIGN: Randomized controlled study. SETTING: Residential
cardiac rehabilitation centre and community hospital. INTERVENTION: One month of
intensive exercise and risk reduction therapy including educational sessions, a
low-fat diet, and 2 hours of individually prescribed exercise daily. Control
subjects received usual care. Subjects were evaluated at baseline, after
completing the one-month residential programme and six years later. SUBJECTS:
From an original study group of 50, 16 patients (8 exercise, 8 controls) with
chronic heart failure were alive and available for evaluation after six years.
MAIN MEASURES: Cardiopulmonary exercise test responses and ventricular size and
function using MRI. RESULTS: Peak Vo(2) was 20.0 and 12.4% higher after the
rehabilitation programme and six years later, respectively, whereas minimal
changes were observed among controls. Left ventricular mass and volumes tended to
decrease among subjects in the exercise group, whereas left ventricular mass and
volumes tended to increase among control subjects after six years. Ejection
fraction increased approximately 20% in both groups. CONCLUSION: Six years after
participation in a concentrated residential rehabilitation programme, exercise
capacity was preserved and no significant changes were observed in ventricular
size or function. These findings provide further support for exercise
rehabilitation in chronic heart failure.

Langue : ANGLAIS