Cardiac Rehabilitation in Heart Failure. Part II. Does Higher Intensity Means Better Outcome?

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) due to its universality has become a huge challenge for modern medicine. Second part of the twentieth century brought significant changes in the rehabilitation, diagnostic and pharmacological procedures. There are no definitive guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) in HF. Based on previous studies, the article tried to describe and illustrate the mechanism of effective CR and its intensity in HF patients, which could be helpful in CR protocol development. Cardiac Rehabilitation has confirmed efficacy in increased physical level of participation in inter alia, home/work/recreational activities, improved psychosocial well-being, functional independence, prevention of disability, long-term adherence to maintaining physically active lifestyle, improved cardiopulmonary fitness, strength, muscle endurance, and flexibility, reduced cardiovascular events risk and risk of mortality. Before and after CR conduction, baseline and final aerobic capacity should be examined with an ergospirometry test to evaluate CR protocol intensity and check its effectiveness, respectively. Frequency of training-bouts in CR protocol in HF patients were from 3 to 7 days per week, intensity ranged from 40% to 80% VO2max or 9 to 14 on rating of the perceived exertion (RPE) scale or 6 to 20 on the Borg scale. Duration of single bout-exercise ranged from 20 to 60 minutes.