Cardiac rehabilitation program in patients with Chagas heart failure: a single-arm pilot study

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The benefit of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program for patients with Chagas heart failure (CHF) remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of CR for CHF patients. METHODS: A single-arm pilot study, including 12 patients with CHF, was performed. Patients participated in an 8-month physical exercise intervention, comprising aerobic, strength, and stretching exercises (3 times per week, 60 minutes per session). Nutritional and pharmaceutical counseling were also performed. Functional capacity (cardiopulmonary exercise test), muscle respiratory strength (manovacuometry), and body composition (anthropometry and skinfolds) were evaluated at baseline, and after 4 and 8 months of intervention. Cardiac function (echocardiography), biomarkers (lipid profile, glucose, and glycated hemoglobin) and quality of life (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire) were assessed at baseline and at the end of the intervention. RESULTS: Seven of 12 patients included in the study completed the 8-month follow-up period. Only 2 moderate adverse events occurred during the exercise training. Functional capacity improved after 4 months of CR, while left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and respiratory strength improved after 8 months. Patients with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction at baseline exhibited an improvement in functional capacity after 4 months, and improvements in left ventricular (LV) diastolic pressure, respiratory strength, and quality of life at the end of follow-up. Conversely, those with normal baseline RV function demonstrated LVEF increases that were not observed in patients with RV dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: CR was feasible, safe, and has important clinical benefits for patients with CHF, specifically for cardiac function and muscle respiratory strength.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Mediano,Mauro Felippe Felix, Mendes,Fernanda de Souza Nogueira Sardinha, Pinto,Vivian Liane Mattos, Silva,Gilberto Marcelo Sperandio da, Silva,Paula Simplício da, Carneiro,Fernanda Martins, Sangenis,Luiz Henrique Conde, Saraiva,Roberto Magalhães, Xavier,Sergio Salles, Brasil,Pedro Emmanuel Alvarenga Americano do, Hasslocher-Moreno,Alejandro Marcel, Sousa,Andrea Silvestre de
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT 2016
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822016000300319
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!