BackgroundPatients with heart failure (HF) often suffer from hepato-renal dysfunction. The associations between hepato-renal function changes and mortality remain unclear. Further, the effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on mortality and motor functions in patients with HF and hepato-renal dysfunction requires investigation. MethodsWe reviewed 2522 patients with HF (63.2 % male; median age: 74 years). The association between changes in hepato-renal function assessed by the Model for End-stage Liver Disease eXcluding INR (MELD-XI) score at discharge and after 150 days at follow-up and mortality was examined. The association of CR participation with mortality and physical functions was investigated in patients with HF and hepato-renal dysfunction. ResultsDuring the follow-up period, 519 (20.6 %) patients died. Worsened MELD-XI score was independently associated with all-cause death [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.009; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.061–1.138; p < 0.001]. CR participation was associated with low mortality, even in the increased MELD-XI score group (aHR: 0.498; 95 % CI: 0.333–0.745; p < 0.001). Trajectory of the MELD-XI score was not associated with physical function changes and did not have the interaction with time effect in handgrip strength (p = 0.084), leg strength (p = 0.082), walking speed (p = 0.583), and 6-min walking distance (p = 0.833) in patients participating in outpatient CR. ConclusionsHepato-renal dysfunction predicts high mortality. CR participation may be helpful for a better prognosis of patients with HF and hepato-renal dysfunction.