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BACKGROUND Although depressive symptoms are associated with an increased risk of readmission after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, it is unclear whether they affect the efficacy of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (EBCR). This study aimed to investigate the effect of depressive symptoms on EBCR efficacy. METHODS We analyzed 48 patients who participated in EBCR after LVAD implantation (mean age 45 ± 12 years; 60% male). Patients were classified into two groups using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS): depressive group (SDS ≥40, n = 27) and non-depressive group (SDS

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an effective treatment of heart failure (HF) with ventricular dyssynchrony, but not all patients respond to a similar extent. We investigated the efficacy and safety of exercise training (ET) in patients without response to CRT. Methods and Results: Thirty-four patients who participated in a 3-month ET program and underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing at baseline and after the program were divided into 17 responders and 17 non-responders based on echocardiographic response criteria: either an increase in ejection fraction (EF) ≥10% or a reduction in left ventricular (LV) end-systolic volume ≥10%. Baseline characteristics including peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2) and isometric knee extensor muscle strength (IKEMS) were similar in both groups, but non-responders had lower EF and larger LV. During the ET program, neither group had exercise-related adverse event including life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. Peak V̇O2 and IKEMS were significantly improved in both groups and there was no significant difference in change in peak V̇O2 or IKEMS between responders and non-responders. On multiple regression analysis, change in IKEMS was an independent predictor of change in peak V̇O2, whereas the response to CRT was not. Conclusions: In HF patients undergoing CRT implantation, ET safely improved exercise capacity regardless of response to CRT, suggesting that even advanced HF patients without response to CRT can possibly benefit from ET.

Objective: This study elucidated the effects of exercise training on physical activity, 6-min walk distance, and all-cause hospitalization rates in patients with chronic heart failure, and evaluated factors contributing to changes in physical activity. Design: Prospective cohort observational study. Patients and methods: Patients (n =62) who completed an exercise training programme after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy treatment between May 2017 and May 2018 were included. Patients exercised for 20–50 min 3–5 times weekly for 3 months and were assigned to the active (≥ 10 min/day) or non-active (

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended to improve exercise capacity after heart transplantation (HTx); however, the effects of marginal donor factors are unclear. Forty-one recipients participated in a 3-month CR program early after HTx (mean age 39 ± 14 years; 88% male). Patients were divided into marginal (≥ 2 marginal donor factors; n = 24) and control groups (

This study aimed to elucidate the predictors of improvements in exercise capacity during cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in the recovery phase after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) versus acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We studied 152 patients (91 after AMI and 61 after CABG) who participated in a 3-month CR program. All patients underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test, blood tests, maximal quadriceps isometric strength (QIS) measurement, and bioelectrical impedance body composition measurement at the beginning and end of the 3-month CR program. At baseline, the percentage of predicted peak oxygen uptake (%pred-PVO2), maximal QIS, and hemoglobin (Hb) were significantly lower, while C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly higher, in the CABG than the AMI group. After the 3-month CR, %change in PVO2 (%ΔPVO2) was significantly greater in the CABG than the AMI group (18 ± 15% vs 11 ± 12%, P

PURPOSE Although cardiac rehabilitation is recommended for patients early after heart transplantation (HTx), adequate exercise effect cannot always be obtained, partly because in patients with chronic heart failure, exercise capacity is reduced due to malnutrition while waiting for HTx. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between exercise capacity and clinical variables, including nutritional indicators, early after HTx. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-three HTx recipients were studied. The mean age at HTx was 38 ± 14 years, and 86% were male. We assessed the relationships between peak oxygen uptake (VO2 ) and clinical variables, including plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), isometric knee extensor muscle strength (KEMS), and nutritional indicators within 1 week of their respective discharges. RESULTS Peak VO2 correlated positively with isometric KEMS (r = .63, P