Heart Failure, Myocardial Infarction
Conditions
Keywords
Interval training, Endothelial dysfunction, Aerobic capacity, Exercise
Brief summary
Introduction: Moderate-intensity endurance-training is known to reduce symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, and improve quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. The training benefits have mainly been attributed to adaptations in the peripheral circulation and skeletal muscle rather than to adaptations in cardiac performance. However attenuation of left ventricular (LV) remodelling has been documented in some studies. The effects of high- vs. moderate exercise-intensity on LV-remodelling and endothelial function in patients with post-infarction heart failure are not definitively established and were studied in the present study. Methods: Patients with post-infarction heart failure (45-87 yrs, 22-males, 5-females, all received b-blockers and ACE-inhibitors, EF 29%, peak oxygen uptake 13 ml/kg/min) were randomized to 12-weeks, 2-3 times per week, of either moderate exercise-intensity (70% of peak heart rate), high-intensity interval-training (95% of peak heart rate) or to a control group that received advise from their regular doctors. Patients in the two exercise-groups covered similar distance on the treadmill at each exercise-session so that only exercise-intensity differed; i.e. the duration of exercise was longer in the moderate-intensity group. Ultrasound was used to assess LV-dimension and function (including Tissue Doppler Imaging, TDI) and endothelial function in the brachial-artery.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALModerate intensity exercise training
12-weeks, 2-3 times per week moderate exercise-intensity (70% of peak heart rate)
BEHAVIORALHigh intensity exercise training
12-weeks, 2-3 times per week high-intensity interval-training (95% of peak heart rate)
Sponsors
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
30 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Post-infarction heart failure and optimal treatment (ACE-inhibitors, Beta-blockade)
Exclusion criteria
Not able to walk on a treadmill, unstable angina, participating in another experiment, serious arrhythmia
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Remodelling of heart function and structure | 3 months |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Improved endothelial and skeletal muscle as well as quality of life | 3 months |
Countries
Norway
Outcome results
None listed