Search

Background: Unipolar depression is one of the most common diseases worldwide and is associated with a higher cardiovascular risk partly due to reduced aerobic capacity., Objectives: Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine whether a structured aerobic training program can improve aerobic capacity in inpatients with MDD (major depressive disorder)., Methods: Overall, 25 patients (13 women, 12 men) diagnosed with MDD were included in the study. Parameters of aerobic capacity, such as maximum performance, maximum oxygen consumption, and VAT (ventilatory anaerobic threshold), were assessed on a bicycle ergometer before and 6 weeks after a training period (three times per week for 45 min on two endurance machines). In addition, a constant load test was carried out at 50% of the maximum performance prior to and after the training period. The performance data were compared with 25 healthy controls matched for sex, age, and body mass index before and after the training period., Results: Compared to controls, patients with MDD had significantly lower aerobic capacity. After training, there was a significant improvement in their performance data. A significant difference remained only for VAT between patients with MDD and healthy controls., Conclusion: With regard to the coincidence of MDD with cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disorders, a structured supervised exercise program carried out during hospitalization is a useful supplement for patients with MDD.

Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with increased amounts of intra-abdominal and epicardial adipose tissue, risk factors for the development of cardio-metabolic disorders. Exercise has been shown to reduce intra-abdominal fat in different conditions such as obesity and diabetes mellitus, thereby reducing cardio-metabolic risks. Therefore we examined the effects of exercise on adipose tissue compartments in patients with MDD., Methods: Of thirty depressed patients included, twenty received supervised exercise training, and ten received no specific training. Volumes of subcutaneous, intra-abdominal and epicardial adipose tissue were measured using magnetic resonance imaging, and factors constituting the metabolic syndrome were determined., Results: Significant effects of the training condition were observed on the amount of epicardial adipose tissue (P=0.017), subcutaneous adipose tissue (P=0.023), weight (P=0.047), body-mass index (P=0.04), high density lipoproteins (P=0.021) and the number of metabolic syndrome factors (P=0.018). The amount of intra-abdominal adipose tissue decreased slightly, although not significantly, in the exercise group., Conclusion: Exercise training reduces the amount of visceral, in particular epicardial adipose tissue, in patients with MDD, and ameliorates factors constituting the metabolic syndrome. Given the high prevalence of cardio-metabolic disorders in major depression, exercise training may be recommended as an additional treatment component., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with decreased physical activity and increased rates of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. Exercise training has been shown to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic syndrome factors. Therefore, our study aimed at examining whether patients receiving an exercise program as an adjunct to inpatient treatment will benefit in terms of physiological and psychological factors., Method: Fourty-two inpatients with moderate to severe depression were included. Twenty-two patients were randomized to additional 3x weekly exercise training (EXERCISE) and compared to treatment as usual (TAU). Exercise capacity was assessed as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) and workload expressed as Watts (W). Metabolic syndrome was defined according to NCEP ATPIII panel criteria., Results: After 6 weeks of treatment, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak, VAT, Watt), waist circumference and HDL cholesterol were significantly improved in EXERCISE participants. Treatment response expressed as ≥50% MADRS reduction was more frequent in the EXERCISE group., Conclusions: Adjunctive exercise training in depressed inpatients improves physical fitness, MetS factors, and psychological outcome. Given the association of depression with cardiometablic disorders, exercise training is recommended as an adjunct to standard antidepressant treatment., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Quality of life in lung transplant recipients (LTR) is reported to be comparable with that of the general population. However, previous studies have shown that exercise capacity was reduced to 30 - 40 % of normal values. The purpose of this study was to investigate the gap between good self-reported quality of life and reduced exercise capacity in LTR, to describe possible correlations and to compare the results with those of a control group (CG)., Methods: 27 LTR 208 +/- 67 days after bilateral lund transplantation (16 male, 11 female; age: 46 +/- 10 years; body mass index: 24 +/- 3 kg x m (- 2), FEV (1) % 75 +/- 27 %) and 30 controls (17 male 13 female; age 47 +/- 15 years; BMI: 26 +/- 4 kg x m (- 2), FEV (1) % 103 +/- 15 %) performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing and were interviewed with the standardized German "Quality of life profile for chronic disease" self-rating questionnaire., Results: Significant differences were shown in objective exercise related variables (peak oxygen consumption: LTR 15.1 +/- 1.8, CG 34.5 +/- 9.1 ml x min (- 1) x kg (- 1); p < 0,01); peak workload: LTR 1.0 +/- 0.2; CG 2.4 +/- 1.0 W. kg (- 1); p < 0.01); percentage of predicted workload: LTR 44 +/- 12, CG 115 +/- 33 %; p < 0.01). The rating of subjective quality of life in physical, psychological and social domains of LTR did not differ from values of the CG or of the general population (n = 1143). The quality of life in the physical domain correlated significantly with peak exercise capacity (LTR r = 0.44, p < 0.05; CG r = 0.37; p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Patients 7 months after lung transplantation described their physical, social and psychological quality of life as equally good as the healthy control group. However, peak exercise capacity and oxygen consumption were markedly reduced. To improve physical capacity in the range of daily activities, an exercise training program should be offered to patients after lung transplantation.