Search

AimsImprovement in exercise capacity is the primary goal of physical activity programmes for patients with heart failure (HF). Although activity programmes are effective for some patients, others do not benefit. Identifying factors related to a lack of improvement in submaximal exercise capacity may help us interpret findings and design new interventions. The aim of this study is to identify factors contributing to a lack of improvement in submaximal exercise capacity 3 months after physical activity advice or an exergame intervention in patients with HF. Additionally, we aimed to assess differences in lack of improvement in submaximal exercise capacity of patients whose baseline exercise capacity predicted a worse compared with better prognosis of HF.Methods and resultsThis secondary analysis of the HF-Wii study analysed baseline and 3 month data of the 6 min walk test (6MWT) from 480 patients (mean age 67 years, 72% male). Data were analysed separately in patients with a pre-defined 6 min walking distance at baseline of

Information on standards including structure- and process-based metrics and how exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (EBCR) is delivered in relation to guidelines is lacking. The aims of the study were to evaluate standards and adherence to guidelines at Swedish CR centers and to conduct a cost analysis of the physiotherapy-related activities of EBCR. EBCR standards at all 78 CR centers in Sweden in 2016 were surveyed. The questions were based on guideline-recommended core components of EBCR for patients after a myocardial infarction (MI). The cost analysis included the identification, quantification, and valuation of EBCR-related cost items. Patients were offered a pre-discharge consultation with a physiotherapist at n = 61, 78% of the centers. A pre-exercise screening visit was routinely offered at n = 64, 82% of the centers, at which a test of aerobic capacity was offered in n = 58, 91% of cases, most often as a cycle ergometer exercise test n = 55, 86%. A post-exercise assessment was offered at n = 44, 56% of the centers, with a functional test performed at n = 30, 68%. Almost all the centers n = 76, 97% offered supervised EBCR programs. The total cost of delivering physiotherapy-related activities of EBCR according to guidelines was approximately 437 euro (4,371 SEK) per patient. Delivering EBCR to one MI patient required 11.25 hours of physiotherapy time. While the overall quality of EBCR programs in Sweden is high, there are several areas of potential improvement to reach the recommended European standards across all centers. To improve the quality of EBCR, further compliance with guidelines is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The impact of exercise interventions on physical activity (PA) remains undetermined in intermittent claudication, which is why it is important to include objectively measured PA as an additional endpoint. The aim of this prespecified secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial was to investigate the impact of unsupervised Nordic pole walk advice (WA) alone or in combination with hospital-based supervised exercise (SEP) or home-based structured exercise (HSEP) on PA in patients with intermittent claudication. Methods In total, 166 patients with intermittent claudication (mean age = 72 [SD = 7.4] y; 41% women) were randomized to 3 intermittent claudication-treatment strategies: WA, WA + SEP, or WA + HSEP. All patients received Nordic poles and standardized WA (≥30 min, 3 times weekly). Patients randomized to HSEP and SEP accepted participation in an additional 6-months exercise program. PA was measured with an accelerometer-based activPAL3 monitor for 7 days at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. PA outcomes were steps per day, time spent within a stepping cadence ≥100 steps per minute, time spent upright, number of body transitions from sitting to standing, and number of sitting bouts of >30 minutes and >60 minutes. Results At 1 year, no intergroup differences were observed in any of the PA variables, whereas significant intergroup differences were observed at 3 months regarding time spent within a stepping time cadence ≥100 steps per minute. The mean change for HSEP (2.47 [SD = 10.85] min) was significantly different from the mean change for WA (−3.20 [SD = 6.24] min). At 6 months, the number of sitting bouts (>60 min) for SEP was significantly different from WA (mean change = 0.24 [SD = 0.69] vs −0.23 [SD = 0.81]). Conclusion This study indicates that the addition of 6 months of HSEP or SEP does not improve PA at 1 year, as compared to unsupervised WA alone. Factors of importance for increasing PA in patients with intermittent claudication require further investigation. Impact At the 1-year follow-up, the addition of intermittent claudication-tailored additional exercise strategies did not improve daily PA in patients with intermittent claudication compared with unsupervised Nordic pole WA alone. Future studies may explore the role of behavior change techniques to increase PA in this patient group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Supervised exercise is a guideline-recommended treatment in intermittent claudication (IC). Hospital-based supervised exercise programmes (SEPs) are underutilized, while home-based structured exercise programmes (HSEPs) have attracted interest. The results from HSEP in IC are inconsistent and may confer no benefit over walk advice (WA) and be less effective than SEP. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of best medical treatment, including Nordic pole WA alone, or WA + SEP or WA + HSEP for patients with IC. Methods and results This three-armed, multicentre randomized clinical trial enrolled patients with IC; all patients received best medical treatment including walking poles and the advice of regular Nordic pole walking (WA). For HSEP and SEP, additional exercise programmes were provided. The primarily investigated hypothesis was a non-inferiority analysis of SEP vs. HSEP regarding the 6-min walk test (6MWT) maximum distance, with a pre-defined non-inferiority margin of 50 m. Supporting outcomes included muscle endurance tests and the walking impairment questionnaire. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months by a blinded evaluator. Altogether 166 patients (mean age 72 years; 59% males) were randomized. In HSEP and SEP, 24 and 26% patients, respectively, were fully exercise adherent. All three groups improved pain-free walking distance over time, but there were no significant intergroup differences. The intergroup 6MWT difference between SEP and HSEP from 0 to 12 months was –11.6 m, 95% confidence interval: –36.4 to 13.0 m (i.e. within the pre-specified non-inferiority margin). Conclusion The HSEP was non-inferior to SEP in patients with IC. There were no significant differences observed between the three groups at 1 year. Registration ClinicialTrials.gov: NCT02341716. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the use of a Citizens' Jury as a source of voter information in the context of a government-initiated (top-down) referendum. Several studies show the capacity of the Citizens' Initiative Review (CIR) to enhance voters' knowledge and capacity of judgement in ballot initiative processes. However, similar procedures have not been tested outside the U.S.A. or in the context of government-initiated referendums. Our case is a Citizens' Jury on Referendum Options organised in the municipality of Korsholm (Finland) in 2019. Even though the referendum concerned a contested municipal merger, we find that jury's participants were nonetheless satisfied with the deliberative process and found it impartial. A large majority of voters in Korsholm had read the statement by the jury and thought it was a useful and trustworthy source of information. Based on a field experiment, we find that reading the statement increased trust in the jury, factual knowledge, issue efficacy and perspective-taking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]