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Athanasiou A, Papazachou O, Rovina N, Nanas S, Dimopoulos S, Kourek C. The Effects of Exercise Training on Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2024; 11:161. [PMID: 38921661 PMCID: PMC11203630 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd11060161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise training on functional capacity and quality of life (QoL) in patients with RA. We performed a search in four databases, selecting clinical trials that included community or outpatient exercise training programs in patients with RA. The primary outcome was functional capacity assessed by peak VO2 or the 6 min walking test, and the secondary outcome was QoL assessed by questionnaires. Seven studies were finally included, identifying a total number of 448 patients. The results of the present systematic review show a statistically significant increase in peak VO2 after exercise training in four out of seven studies. In fact, the improvement was significantly higher in two out of these four studies compared to the controls. Six out of seven studies provided data on the patients' QoL, with five of them managing to show statistically significant improvement after exercise training, especially in pain, fatigue, vitality, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. This systematic review demonstrates the beneficial effects of exercise training on functional capacity and QoL in patients with RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Athanasiou
- Clinical Ergospirometry, Exercise & Rehabilitation Laboratory, 1st Critical Care Medicine Department, Evangelismos Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10676 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (O.P.); (S.N.); (S.D.)
| | - Ourania Papazachou
- Clinical Ergospirometry, Exercise & Rehabilitation Laboratory, 1st Critical Care Medicine Department, Evangelismos Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10676 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (O.P.); (S.N.); (S.D.)
- Department of Cardiology, “Helena Venizelou” Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikoletta Rovina
- 1st Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sotiria Chest Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Serafim Nanas
- Clinical Ergospirometry, Exercise & Rehabilitation Laboratory, 1st Critical Care Medicine Department, Evangelismos Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10676 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (O.P.); (S.N.); (S.D.)
| | - Stavros Dimopoulos
- Clinical Ergospirometry, Exercise & Rehabilitation Laboratory, 1st Critical Care Medicine Department, Evangelismos Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10676 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (O.P.); (S.N.); (S.D.)
- Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 17674 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Kourek
- Clinical Ergospirometry, Exercise & Rehabilitation Laboratory, 1st Critical Care Medicine Department, Evangelismos Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10676 Athens, Greece; (A.A.); (O.P.); (S.N.); (S.D.)
- Department of Cardiology, 417 Army Share Fund Hospital of Athens (NIMTS), 11521 Athens, Greece
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Abstract
This document reflects the key points of a consensus meeting of the Heart Failure Association of European Society of Cardiology (ESC) held to provide an overview the role of physiological monitoring in the complex multimorbid heart failure (HF) patient. This article reviews assessments of the functional ability of patients with HF. The gold standard measurement of cardiovascular functional capacity is peak oxygen consumption obtained from a cardiopulmonary exercise test. The 6-min walk test provides an indirect measure of cardiovascular functional capacity. Muscular functional capacity is assessed using either a 1−repetition maximum test of the upper and lower body or other methods, such as handgrip measurement. The short physical performance battery may provide a helpful, indirect indication of muscular functional capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo F Piepoli
- Heart Failure Unit, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, Cantone del Cristo, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Ilaria Spoletini
- Department of Medical Sciences, Centre for Clinical and Basic Research, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Rosano
- Department of Medical Sciences, Centre for Clinical and Basic Research, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
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