Adherence of elderly patients suffering from chronic heart failure to physical training.

Congestive CHF is a very common pathology. Patients are often elderly and 25% are older than 80 years old. Physical disability is usual in this population and could increase the negative impact of CHF. The beneficial effect of physical training is still discussed especially in the elderly patients due to the low adherence of patients. We have developed a specific education program for years. This program includes a specific physical training and adherence of patients is measured every 6 month by a questionnaire and educative visit. The aim of our work is to determine the long-term adherence of elderly patients (CHF patients older than 80 years old) to our physical home training. We have analyzed through a questionnaire, physical examination and interview the adherence and the impact of practicing gymnastic and physical training in those patients. We have included more than 350 patients in our database and have selected all the patients older than 80 years old (75 patients). One year after the initial session, 75% of the patients have still an regular physical activity (non statiscally different from younger patients) and those with such “every week” training have a better performance to 6 minute walk test ( P < 0.05) and better clinical evolution than the “non adherent” patients ( P < 0.05). In conclusion it is possible to educate elderly patients to physical training and to maintain an acceptable adherence in elderly and very elderly patients. Six-minute walk test performance month after month is useful to evaluate easily this adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]