How should we advise heart failure patients on exercise and what should we tell them?

The effect of exercise on cancer-related fatigue in cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to conduct systematic review and meta-analysis to establish the effect of exercise interventions on cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in cancer survivors, compared to non-exercise intervention controls.

METHODS

Trials published between January 1st 2000 and August 17th 2016 were included through PubMed database search and search of references. Eligible trials compared the effect of an exercise intervention on CRF compared to non-exercise intervention controls, with CRF as primary outcome and measured by validated self-report questionnaire, in cancer survivors not receiving palliative care. We evaluated risk of bias of individual trials following Cochrane Quality criteria. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis in the low risk of bias trials with intervention type, exercise intensity, adherence, and cancer type as moderators, and also performed meta-regression analyses and a sensitivity analysis including the high risk of bias trials.

RESULTS

Out of 274 trials, 11 met the inclusion criteria, of which six had low risk of bias. Exercise improved CRF with large effect size (Cohen's d 0.605, 95% CI 0.235-0.975) with no significant difference between types of cancer. Aerobic exercise (Δ=1.009, CI 0.222-1.797) showed a significantly greater effect than a combination of aerobic and resistance exercises (Δ=0.341, CI 0.129-0.552). Moderator and meta-regression analyses showed high adherence yielding best improvements.

CONCLUSION

Exercise has a large effect on CRF in cancer survivors. Aerobic interventions with high adherence have the best result.

Influence of home-based telemonitored Nordic walking training on autonomic nervous system balance in heart failure patients

INTRODUCTION

Rehabilitation positively affects the modulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). There are no papers evaluating the influence of Nordic walking training (NW) on ANS activity among chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. The aim of study was to assess the influence of NW on ANS activity measured by heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) in CHF patients and its correlation with physical capacity improvement measured by peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2 [ml/kg/min]) in the cardiopulmonary exercise treadmill test (CPET).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study group comprised 111 CHF patients (NYHA class II-III; ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 40%). Patients were randomized (2 : 1) to 8-week NW (five times weekly) at 40-70% of maximal heart rate (training group - TG) (n = 77), or to a control group (CG) (n = 34). The effectiveness of NW was assessed by changes (delta (Δ)) in peak VO2, HRV and HRT as a result of comparing these parameters from the beginning and the end of the programme.

RESULTS

Eventually, 36 TG patients and 15 CG patients were eligible for HRV and HRT analysis. In the TG low/high frequency ratio (LF/HF) decreased (1.9 ±1.11 vs. 1.7 ±0.63, p = 0.0001) and peak VO2 increased (16.98 ±4.02 vs. 19.70 ±4.36 ml/kg/min, p < 0.0001). Favourable results in CG were not observed. The differences between TG and CG were significant: Δpeak VO2 (p = 0.0081); ΔLF/HF (p = 0.0038). An inverse correlation was found between the decrease in ΔLF/HF and the increase in Δpeak VO2 (R = -0.3830, p = 0.0211) only in the TG. Heart rate variability did not change significantly in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

Nordic walking positively affects the parasympathetic-sympathetic balance in CHF patients, which correlates with the improvement in Δpeak VO2. No significant influence of NW on HRT was observed.

"I Just Can't Do It Anymore" Patterns of Physical Activity and Cardiac Rehabilitation in African Americans with Heart Failure: A Mixed Method Study

Physical activity and cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are components of heart failure (HF) self-care. The aims of this study were to describe patterns of physical activity in African Americans (n = 30) with HF and to explore experience in CR. This was a mixed method, concurrent nested, predominantly qualitative study. Qualitative data were collected via interviews exploring typical physical activity, and CR experience. It was augmented by quantitative data measuring HF severity, self-care, functional capacity and depressive symptoms. Mean age was 60 ± 15 years; 65% were New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III HF. Forty-three percent reported that they did less than 30 min of exercise in the past week; 23% were told “nothing” about exercise by their provider, and 53% were told to do “minimal exercise”. A measure of functional capacity indicated the ability to do moderate activity. Two related themes stemmed from the narratives describing current physical activity: “given up” and “still trying”. Six participants recalled referral to CR with one person participating. There was high concordance between qualitative and quantitative data, and evidence that depression may play a role in low levels of physical activity. Findings highlight the need for strategies to increase adherence to current physical activity guidelines in this older minority population with HF.

Creatinine excretion rate, a marker of muscle mass, is related to clinical outcome in patients with chronic systolic heart failure

AIMS

In chronic heart failure (CHF), low body mass as a reflection of low muscle mass has been associated with poor outcome. Urinary creatinine excretion rate (CER) is an established marker of muscle mass, but has not been investigated in CHF. This study aims to evaluate urinary CER as a marker of muscle mass in patients with CHF and establish the relationship with clinical outcome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 120 patients with CHF, we evaluated CER as determined by mean creatinine excretion rate in two consecutive 24-h urine collections. We evaluated the relationship between CER and clinical variables using linear regression. Finally, we evaluated the association between CER and clinical outcome. Mean age was 59 ± 12 years, and 80% were male. Mean CER was 1,383 mg/day (range 412-2,930). Independent predictors of CER were body surface area (BSA) (β = 0.404, P < 0.001), gender (β = -0.180, P = 0.029), log N terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) (β = -0.172, P = 0.048) and age (β = -0.168, P = 0.035). During three years of follow-up, 33 patients (28%) developed a clinical endpoint, defined as the first occurrence of either all-cause death, heart transplantation, myocardial infarction, or hospitalization for heart failure during three years of follow-up. In Cox regression analyses, log CER was associated with the occurrence of the clinical endpoint independent of age, gender, BSA, glomerular filtration rate and urinary albumin excretion, [hazard ratio 7.67 (1.82-32.3) per log decrease], but not independent of NTproBNP [hazard ratio 3.66 (0.79-17.0), P = 0.098].

CONCLUSIONS

Low urinary CER is associated with smaller body dimensions and more severe heart failure and is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcome.