Alternatives to Aerobic Exercise Prescription in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Exercise intensity prescription in cardiovascular rehabilitation: bridging the gap between best evidence and clinical practice

Optimizing endurance exercise intensity prescription is crucial to maximize the clinical benefits and minimize complications for individuals at risk for or with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, standardization remains incomplete due to variations in clinical guidelines. This review provides a practical and updated guide for health professionals on how to prescribe endurance exercise intensity for cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) populations, addressing international guidelines, practical applicability across diverse clinical settings and resource availabilities. In the context of CR, cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is considered the gold standard assessment, and prescription based on ventilatory thresholds (VTs) is the preferable methodology. In settings where this approach isn't accessible, which is frequently the case in low-resource environments, approximating VTs involves combining objective assessments-ideally, exercise tests without gas exchange analyses, but at least alternative functional tests like the 6-minute walk test-with subjective methods for adjusting prescriptions, such as Borg's ratings of perceived exertion and the Talk Test. Therefore, enhancing exercise intensity prescription and offering personalized physical activity guidance to patients at risk for or with CVD rely on aligning workouts with individual physiological changes. A tailored prescription promotes a consistent and impactful exercise routine for enhancing health outcomes, considering patient preferences and motivations. Consequently, the selection and implementation of the best possible approach should consider available resources, with an ongoing emphasis on strategies to improve the delivery quality of exercise training in the context of FITT-VP prescription model (frequency, intensity, time, type, volume, and progression).

The role of frailty in advanced HF and cardiac transplantation

Frailty is a complex, multi-system condition often associated with multimorbidity. It has become an important prognostic maker across a range of conditions and is particularly relevant in patients with cardiovascular disease. Frailty encompasses a range of domains including, physical, psychological, and social. There are currently a range of validated tools available to measure frailty. It is an especially important measurement in advanced HF, because frailty occurs in up to 50% of HF patients and is potentially reversible with therapies such as mechanical circulatory support and transplantation. Moreover, frailty is dynamic, and therefore serial measurements are important. This review delves into the measurement of frailty, mechanisms, and its role in different cardiovascular cohorts. Understanding frailty will help determine patients that will benefit from therapies, as well as prognosticate outcomes.

Effect of Crocin From Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Supplementation on Oxidant/Antioxidant Markers, Exercise Capacity, and Pulmonary Function Tests in COPD Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive and chronic respiratory disorder characterized by reversible airflow limitation and lung parenchyma destruction. The main feature of COPD is inflammation and disturbance of the oxidant/antioxidant balance in the airways. The therapeutic use of herbal supplements with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties seems to be very useful in the medical management of patients with COPD. Method: COPD patients were divided into placebo and intervention groups (each group n = 23) in a clinical trial study. The intervention group received crocin supplementation (30 mg/day for 12 weeks), and the control group received a placebo. Pre- and after the intervention, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), exercise capacity (using a 6-min walking distance test (6MWD)), and serum levels of total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), and NF-kB were assessed using the ELISA test. Results: Intervention with crocin for 12 weeks in COPD patients decreased serum levels of TOS and NF-κB as well as increased TAOC. In addition, the results of the 6MWD test reveal an improvement in patients' exercise capacity. Conclusion: Crocin supplementation appears to effectively establish oxidant/antioxidant balance and improve inflammatory conditions in patients with COPD.

Agreement between heart rate at first ventilatory threshold on treadmill and at 6-min walk test in coronary artery disease patients on β-blockers treatment

The purpose of this study was to verify the accuracy of the agreement between heart rate at the first ventilatory threshold (HR_VT1) and heart rate at the end of the 6-min walk test (HR_6MWT) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients on β-blockers treatment. This was a cross-sectional study with stable CAD patients, which performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a treadmill and a 6-min walk test (6MWT) on nonconsecutive days. The accuracy of agreement between HR_VT1 and HR_6MWT was evaluated by Bland–Altman analysis and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (r_c), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and standard error of estimate (SEE). Seventeen stable CAD patients on β-blockers treatment (male, 64.7%; age, 61±10 years) were included in data analysis. The Bland–Altman analysis revealed a negative bias of −0.41±6.4 bpm (95% limits of agreements, −13 to 12.2 bpm) between HR_VT1 and HR_6MWT. There was acceptable agreement between HR_VT1 and HR_6MWT (r_c=0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.63 to 0.93; study power analysis=0.79). The MAPE of the HR_6MWT was 5.1% and SEE was 6.6 bpm. The ratio HR_VT1/HR_peak and HR_6MWT/HR_peak from CPET were not significantly different (81%±5% vs. 81%±6%, P=0.85); respectively. There was a high correlation between HR_VT1 and HR_6MWT (r=0.85, P<0.0001). Finally, the results of the present study demonstrate that there was an acceptable agreement between HR_VT1 and HR_6MWT in CAD patients on β-blockers treatment and suggest that HR_6MWT may be useful to prescribe and control aerobic exercise intensity in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

The Effects of Integrated Step Training into the Physical Education Curriculum of Children with Intellectual Disabilities

(1) Background: This study investigated the changes in step frequency, walking ability, and standing posture of students with intellectual disabilities by integrating step training into the students' physical education curriculum; (2) Methods: The centroid formula was used to estimate the geometric center of the students' bodies in video footage of each participant. Each participant's stepping frequency per minute was recorded. After training, the teachers involved were interviewed regarding the participants' everyday activities in school. Each step training session was recorded by two video cameras. Each step training session was observed and photographed by a senior physical education teacher with special education qualifications; (3) Results: The step training increased the stability of the participants' body axes. The participants' average steps per minute of the participants significantly improved from 24.200 ± 7.554 to 28.700 ± 8.629. Additionally, despite the students exhibiting anxious behavior (e.g., squeezing their hands and grasping at their clothes) at baseline, the frequency of these behaviors decreased significantly from week 4. Overall, the students' daily activities, motivation, interpersonal interaction, self-confidence, and anxiety behaviors improved; (4) Conclusions: After the 8-week step program, the participants with intellectual disabilities improved their step frequency, movement stability, ability to perform daily activities, walking speed, motivation, interpersonal interaction, and self-confidence, and they exhibited a lower level of anxiety-related behaviors.

The 6-Minute Walk Test predicts long-term physical improvement among intensive care unit survivors: a prospective cohort study

Objetivo

Avaliar a capacidade do Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos para predizer a melhora do estado funcional físico em longo prazo de pacientes sobreviventes à unidade de terapia intensiva.

Métodos

Foram avaliados, de forma prospectiva, entre fevereiro de 2017 e agosto de 2018, em um ambulatório pós-unidade de terapia intensiva, 32 sobreviventes à unidade de terapia intensiva. Foram inscritos consecutivamente os pacientes com permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva acima de 72 horas (para admissões emergenciais) ou acima de 120 horas (para admissões eletivas) que compareceram ao ambulatório pós-unidade de terapia intensiva 4 meses após receberem alta da unidade de terapia intensiva. A associação entre a distância percorrida no Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos realizado na avaliação inicial e a evolução do estado funcional físico foi avaliada durante 8 meses, com utilização do Índice de Barthel.

Resultados

A distância média percorrida no Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos foi significantemente mais baixa nos sobreviventes à unidade de terapia intensiva do que na população geral (405m versus 557m; p < 0,001). A idade (β = -4,0; p < 0,001) e a fraqueza muscular (β = -99,7; p = 0,02) se associaram com a distância percorrida no Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos. A distância percorrida no Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos se associou com melhora do estado funcional físico no período de 8 meses de acompanhamento desses pacientes (razão de chance para cada 10m: 1,07; IC95% 1,01 - 1,16; p = 0,03). A área sob a curva Característica de Operação do Receptor para predição da melhora funcional física pelo Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos foi de 0,72 (IC95% 0,53 - 0,88).

Conclusão

O Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos, realizado 4 meses após a alta da unidade de terapia intensiva, predisse com precisão moderada a melhora do estado funcional físico de sobreviventes à unidade de terapia intensiva.

Is the Short and Fast Step Test a safe and feasible tool for exploring anaerobic capacities of individuals with coronary heart disease in clinical practice?

BACKGROUND

While its importance in daily living, the anaerobic metabolism is not taken into account in clinical practice. The lack of validated functional performance tests for patients with chronic disabilities may explain this defect. In this context, the Short and Fast Step Test (SFST) was recently developed and validated in healthy volunteers.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety, feasibility and reliability of the SFST, a functional test exploring anaerobic metabolism in coronary patients during cardiac rehabilitation.

DESIGN

This study was a monocentric prospective study.

SETTINGS

This study took place in the rehabilitation center of the University Hospital Center of Dijon, France.

POPULATION

44 coronary patients, addressed for a first cardiac rehabilitation, were included in this protocol.

METHODS

All participants performed three SFST: T1 and T2 (including respiratory gas exchange) the first day of the program and T3 after 3 to 7 days. SFST consists of walking up and down a 17.5cm-high step as many times as possible in 1 minute. Safety was assessed by the percentage of patients who performed the SFST without reporting a fall, or muscular or cardiovascular events. Feasibility was evaluated by the percentage of patients who succeeded in doing the SFST. Reliability was assessed with the number of raised steps in same condition (T1-T3) and different conditions (T1-T2) using a 2-way intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Values were given with their 90% confidence interval [90%CI].

RESULTS

The safety was 95.2% [85.8;99.2] for T1, 88.1% [76.6;95.2] for T2 and 90.4% [79.5;96.7] for T3. 100% [93,1;100] of participants completed T1 and T2, 92.9% [82.6;98] T3. An ICC of 0.74 [0.60;0.84] was observed between T1 and T3 and of 0.87 [0.79;0.92] between T1 and T2.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the good safety, feasibility and reliability of the SFST to assess anaerobic metabolism in coronary patients in a rehabilitation program.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT

These results show that the SFST seems suitable for the evaluation of brief submaximal functional capacity in daily activities. It offers a real possibility to assess such capacity during the cardiac rehabilitation routine.

Safety and Efficacy of Aerobic Exercise Training Associated to Non-Invasive Ventilation in Patients with Acute Heart Failure

Background

Exercise training (ET) improves functional capacity in chronic heart failure (HF). However, ET effects in acute HF are unknown.

Objective

To investigate the effects of ET alone or combined with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) compared with standard medical treatment during hospitalization in acute HF patients.

Methods

Twenty-nine patients (systolic HF) were randomized into three groups: control (Control - only standard medical treatment); ET with placebo NIV (ET+Sham) and ET+NIV (NIV with 14 and 8 cmH₂O of inspiratory and expiratory pressure, respectively). The 6MWT was performed on day 1 and day 10 of hospitalization and the ET was performed on an unloaded cycle ergometer until patients' tolerance limit (20 min or less) for eight consecutive days. For all analyses, statistical significance was set at 5% (p < 0.05).

Results

None of the patients in either exercise groups had adverse events or required exercise interruption. The 6MWT distance was greater in ET+NIV (Δ120 ± 72 m) than in ET+Sham (Δ73 ± 26 m) and Control (Δ45 ± 32 m; p < 0.05). Total exercise time was greater (128 ± 10 vs. 92 ± 8 min; p < 0.05) and dyspnea was lower (3 ± 1 vs. 4 ± 1; p < 0.05) in ET+NIV than ET+Sham. The ET+NIV group had a shorter hospital stay (17 ± 10 days) than ET+Sham (23 ± 8 days) and Control (39 ± 15 days) groups (p < 0.05). Total exercise time in ET+Sham and ET+NIV had significant correlation with length of hospital stay (r = -0.75; p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Exercise training in acute HF was safe, had no adverse events and, when combined with NIV, improved 6MWT and reduce dyspnea and length of stay.

Relationships between heart rate target determined in different exercise testing in COPD patients to prescribed with individualized exercise training

Background

It has been scientifically proven that pulmonary rehabilitation improves exercise tolerance and facilitates the carrying out of daily physical activities. To optimize the physical and physiological benefits, it is necessary to individualize the training intensity for each patient. The aim of this study is to compare the heart rate (HR) responses to three exercise modalities measuring aerobic fitness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, in order to easily prescribe individual target HRs for endurance training.

Patients and method

Fifty COPD patients (mean age: 60.1±8.5 years) were included in the study. Each patient carried out a cardiopulmonary exercise test, a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and a 6-minute stepper test (6MST). During these tests, HR was recorded continuously. After the cardiopulmonary exercise test, the HR was noted at the ventilatory threshold (VT) and at the end of the two exercise field tests (6MWT_peak and 6MST_peak). The values of the HR during the last 3 minutes of both field tests were averaged (6MWT₄₅₆ and 6MST₄₅₆). Finally, the HR at 60% of the HR reserve was calculated with the values of the HR measured during 6MWT and 6MST (HRr_60%walk, HRr_60%step).

Results

The HRs measured during the 6MST were significantly higher than those measured during the 6MWT. The HRr_60%step was not significantly different from 6MWT₄₅₆ and 6MWT_peak HR (P=0.51; P=0.48). A significant correlation was observed between 6MWT₄₅₆ and 6MWT_peak (r=0.58). The 6MWT₄₅₆ and 6MWT_peak HR were correlated with HRr_60%step (r=0.68 and r=0.62). The VT could be determined in 28 patients. The HR_VT was not different from 6MWT₄₅₆, 6MWT_peak, and HRr_60%step (P=0.57, P=0.41 and P=0.88) and was correlated to 6MWT₄₅₆, 6MWT_peak, and HRr_60%step (r=0.45, r=0.40, r=0.48).

Conclusion

An individualized target HR for endurance training can be prescribed from the HR measured during routine tests, such as 6MWT or 6MST.