Impact of Exercise Training on Exercise Capacity in Patients With Severe Chronic Heart Failure

Impact of Three Months of Aerobic Exercise Training on Exercise Capacity and Peripheral Maladaptations in Patients With Severe Chronic Heart Failure (NYHA III b)

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 2

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00176384

Enrollment

Registered

2005-09-15

Start date

2003-03-31

Completion date

2006-12-31

Last updated

2007-08-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Heart Failure

Keywords

chronic heart failure, exercise training

Brief summary

Patients with heart failure are limited in their exercise capacity due to skeletal muscle alteration and an impairment of peripheral perfusion. Regular physical exercise training has been shown to partially correct these peripheral maladaptations in patients with stable heart failure, which was associated with an improvement in exercise capacity. However, it is unknown so far, whether regular physical activity also exerts beneficial effects in patients with severe chronic heart failure. Aim of the trial is therefore to assess the effects of aerobic exercise training on exercise capacity, muscle maladaptations and peripheral perfusion in patients with severe chronic heart failure according to NYHA class III b.

Detailed description

A total of 36 patients with severe chronic heart failure are prospectively randomized to either 3 months of aerobic ergometer training or a sedentary control group. Before and after the intervention period maximal exercise capacity is assessed by ergospirometry, endothelial function is determined by high-resolution A-mode ultrasound, and muscle mass is determined by CT. Skeletal muscle biopsies are obtained at begin and after 3 months and are analyzed for markers of muscle catabolism/anabolism.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALAerobic endurance exercise training (ergometer)

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

MALE

Age

18 Years to 75 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* chronic heart failure (NYHA class III b) * peak oxygen uptake \<20 mL/min/kg body weight * left ventricular ejection fraction \<25 % * left ventricular end-diastolic diameter \>60 mm

Exclusion criteria

* exercise-induced myocardial ischemia * cardiac decompensation within the last 8 weeks * ventricular arrhythmias (\>Lown 4b) in patients not protected by an ICD * insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus * uncontrolled arterial hypertension * orthopedic conditions excluding training participation * body mass index \>30 kg/m2

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Peak oxygen uptake	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Endothelial function	—
Skeletal muscle mass	—
Markers of muscle anabolism / catabolism	—

Countries

Germany

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 31, 2026