Home-based exercise improves the quality of life and physical function but not the psychological status of people with chronic heart failure: a randomised trial. A randomized trial of the addition of home-based exercise to specialist heart failure nurse care: the Birmingham Rehabilitation Uptake Maximisation study for patients with Congestive Heart Failure (BRUM-CHF) study. Comparison of supervised exercise training and home-based exercise training in chronic heart failure. Impact of a home-based walking and resistance training program on quality of life in patients with heart failure. The Health Benefits of a 12-Week Home-Based Interval Training Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in Patients With Heart Failure. Effects of a home-based exercise program on clinical outcomes in heart failure. Effect of exercise training on quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. Home-based exercise improves functional performance and quality of life in women with diastolic heart failure. Home-based cardiac rehabilitation is as effective as centre-based cardiac rehabilitation among elderly with coronary heart disease: results from a randomised clinical trial. Effects of physical training in chronic heart failure Home-based exercise rehabilitation in addition to specialist heart failure nurse care: design, rationale and recruitment to the Birmingham Rehabilitation Uptake Maximisation study for patients with congestive heart failure (BRUM-CHF): a randomised controlled trial Home-based cardiac rehabilitation is an attractive alternative to no cardiac rehabilitation for elderly patients with coronary heart disease: results from a randomised clinical trial Comparison of hospital-based versus home-based exercise training in patients with heart failure: effects on functional capacity, quality of life, psychological symptoms, and hemodynamic parameters A Home-Based Exercise Program Improves Heart Rate Variability and Functional Capacity Among Postmenopausal Women With Coronary Artery Disease The remote exercise monitoring trial for exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (REMOTE-CR): a randomised controlled trial protocol A comparison of home and hospital-based exercise training in heart failure: immediate and long-term effects upon physical activity level Home-Based Exercise in Older Adults Recently Discharged From the Hospital for Cardiovascular Disease in China: Randomized Clinical Trial
QUESTIONS Are anxiety and depression correlated with physical function , disability , and quality of life in people with chronic heart failure ? Does 8 weeks of home-based exercise improve anxiety , depression , physical function , disability , and quality of life in these patients ? Do the changes in these outcomes correlate ? DESIGN R and omised trial . PARTICIPANTS 51 people with clinical ly stable chronic heart failure were r and omised into an experimental group ( n=24 ) or a control group ( n=27 ) . INTERVENTION The experimental group undertook an individualised home-based exercise program , 30 minutes per session , 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks , with regular telephone follow-up and consultations . The control group maintained their usual activity during this period . OUTCOME MEASURES The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale , six-minute walk test , Groningen Activity Restriction Scale , and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Question naire were administered at baseline and 8 weeks . RESULTS At baseline , anxiety and depression were inversely moderately correlated with walking distance , activity , and quality of life . Compared with controls , the experimental group improved significantly more in their walking distance ( by 21 m , 95 % CI 7 to 36 ) and their quality of life ( by 7 points on the 105-point Minnesota score , 95 % CI 1 to 12 ) . In the experimental group , the changes in quality of life correlated moderately strongly with changes in anxiety ( r=0.539 , p=0.01 ) . CONCLUSIONS Anxiety and depression were associated with physical function , disability , and quality of life in people with chronic heart failure .  Home-based exercise improved quality of life and physical function significantly but not psychological status in these patients AIMS Supervised exercise can benefit selected patients with heart failure , however the effectiveness of home-based exercise remains uncertain . We aim ed to assess the effectiveness of a home-based exercise programme in addition to specialist heart failure nurse care . METHODS AND RESULTS This was a r and omized controlled trial of a home-based walking and resistance exercise programme plus specialist nurse care ( n=84 ) compared with  specialist nurse care alone ( n=85 ) in a heart failure population in the West Midl and s , UK . PRIMARY OUTCOME Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Question naire ( MLwHFQ ) at 6 and 12 months . SECONDARY OUTCOMES composite of death , hospital admission with heart failure or myocardial infa rct ion ; psychological well-being ; generic quality of life ( EQ-5D ) ; exercise capacity . There was no statistically significant difference between groups in the MLwHFQ at 6 month ( mean , 95 % CI ) ( -2.53 , -7.87 to 2.80 ) and 12 month ( -0.55 , -5.87 to 4.76 ) follow-up or secondary outcomes with the exception of a higher EQ-5D score ( 0.11 , 0.04 to 0.18 ) at 6 months and lower Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score ( -1.07 , -2.00 to -0.14 ) at 12 months , in favour of the exercise group . At 6 months , the control group showed deterioration in physical activity , exercise capacity , and generic quality of life . CONCLUSION Home-based exercise training programmes may not be appropriate for community-based heart failure patients OBJECTIVE This study was planned to compare the outcomes between supervised and home-based exercise training in patients with chronic heart failure . METHODS The study was conducted at the Department of Physical Therapy in Ankara University , Faculty of Medicine , Turkey between 2000 and 2001 . Twenty-two patients with stable chronic heart failure were r and omly assigned to the supervised exercise training group ( n=11 ) or the home-based exercise training group ( n=11 ) . Symptom-limited maximal exercise tests with gas exchange analysis were carried out before r and omization . Work load equivalent to 60 % of achieved peak heart rate at the tests was determined as exercise training work load for each subject . Both groups participated in a program of 3 exercise training sessions per week for 3 months . The exercise tests were repeated after 3 months . RESULTS After training , peak exercise duration increased significantly in the supervised exercise training group and the home-based exercise training group ( p<0.05 ) . There was substantial improvement in peak VO2 with exercise training in the supervised exercise training group ( p<0.05 ) but , peak VO2 did not change significantly in the home-based exercise training group ( p>0.05 ) . CONCLUSION Supervised and home-based exercise training enhanced exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure . The training program must be tailored to each patient 's specific limitations , individual needs and possibilities . Home-based exercise training may be a training alternative to stable chronic heart failure patients who prefer not to participate in an outpatient supervised training program Patients with heart failure ( HF ) often have profound activity limitations and diminished quality of life ( QOL ) due to symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue . Although recent studies demonstrate positive physiologic and psychological benefits of low to moderate intensity , supervised , aerobic exercise training performed 3 to 5 days/ week for 20 to 40 minutes ' duration , in a monitored setting , the efficacy of a home-based exercise program combining endurance and resistance exercise on symptoms and QOL , are unknown . This r and omized controlled study examined the efficacy , safety , and adherence rates of a 3-month home-based combined walking and resistance exercise program on symptoms and QOL in 40 women and men aged 30 to 76 years with New York Heart Association class II to III HF . Baseline and 3-month evaluations consisted of a chronic HF question naire to assess symptoms and QOL and exercise capacity by symptom-limited treadmill exercise test with respiratory gas analysis . The exercise intervention improved fatigue ( p = 0.02 ) , emotional function ( p = 0.01 ) , and mastery ( p = 0.04 ) . Overall exercise adherence was excellent ( 90 % ) and there were no reported adverse events . A moderate intensity home-based combined walking and resistance program for patients with class II to III HF is safe and effective in reducing symptoms and improving QOL BACKGROUND Recently , high-intensity interval training has been advocated for the rehabilitation of persons living with heart failure ( HF ) . Home-based training is more convenient for many patients and could augment compliance . However , the safety and efficacy of home-based interval training remains unclear . METHODS We evaluated the safety and efficacy of a supervised home-based exercise program involving a combination of interval and resistance training . Measures of aerobic power , endurance capacity , ventilatory threshold , and quality of life in 40 patients with HF , were taken at baseline and after 12 weeks . Patients were matched and r and omized to either control ( CTL ; n = 20 ) or experimental ( EXP ; n = 20 ) conditions . The EXP group underwent a 12-week high-intensity interval and resistance training program while the CTL group maintained their usual activities of daily living . RESULTS In the EXP group , we found a significant improvement in aerobic power , endurance capacity , ventilatory threshold , and quality of life . There were no significant changes in the CTL group . CONCLUSIONS We have shown that a home-based cardiac rehabilitation program involving interval and resistance training is associated with improved aerobic capacity and quality of life in patients with HF . This research has important implication s for the treatment of HF BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a home-based exercise program on clinical outcomes .  Exercise training improves exercise capacity in patients with heart failure ( HF ) but the long-term effects on clinical outcomes remain unknown . METHODS We r and omized 173 patients with systolic HF to control ( n = 87 ) or home-based exercise ( n = 86 ) . The primary end point was a composite of all-cause hospitalizations , emergency department admissions , urgent transplantation , and death at 12 months . Functional performance ( as assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing and the 6-minute walk test ) , quality of life , and psychological states were measured at baseline , 3 months , and 6 months . RESULTS There was no significant difference between experimental and control groups in the combined clinical end point at 12 months and in functional status , quality of life , or psychological states over 6 months . Patients in the exercise group had a lower incidence of multiple ( 2 or more ) hospitalizations compared with the control group : 12.8 % versus 26.6 % , respectively ( P = .018 ) . CONCLUSIONS A home-based walking program that incorporated aerobic and resistance exercise did not result in improved clinical outcomes at 1-year follow-up in this cohort of patients with systolic HF . However , the exercise program result ed in reduced rehospitalization rates The effect of exercise training on quality of life and exercise capacity was studied in 67 patients with mild to moderate chronic heart failure ( CHF ; age : 65.6+/-8.3 years ; left ventricular ejection fraction : 26.5+/-9.6 % ) . Patients were r and omly allocated to either a training group or to a control group . After intervention a significantly larger decrease in Feelings of Being Disabled ( a subscale of the Heart Patients Psychological Question naire ) and a significantly larger increase in the Self- Assessment of General Well-Being ( SAGWB ) were observed in the training group . Exercise time and anaerobic threshold were increased in the training group only . The increase in exercise time was related to both Feelings of Being Disabled and SAGWB . We conclude that supervised exercise training improves both quality of life and exercise capacity and can be safely performed by chronic heart failure patients BACKGROUND Diastolic heart failure ( DHF ) is common in older women . There have been no clinical trials that have identified therapies to improve symptoms in these patients . A total of 32 women with New York Heart Association class II and III DHF ( left ventricular ejection fraction > 45 % and symptoms of dyspnea or fatigue ) were r and omized into a 12-week home-based , low-to-moderate intensity ( 40 % and 60 % , respectively ) exercise and education program ( intervention ) or education only program ( control ) . Methods and results The intervention group improved in the 6-minute walk test from 840 + /- 366 ft to 1043 + /- 317 ft versus 824 + /- 367 ft to 732 + /- 408 ft in the control group ( P = .002 ) . Quality of life also improved in the intervention group compared with the control group as measured by the Living with Heart Failure Question naire ( 41 + /- 26 to 24 + /- 18 vs 27 + /- 18 to 28 + /- 22 at 12 weeks , P = .002 ; 24 + /- 18 to 19 + /- 18 vs 28 + /- 22 to 32 + /- 27 at the 3-month follow-up , P = .014 ) and the Geriatric Depression Scale ( 6 + /- 4 to 4 + /- 4 vs 5 + /- 3 to 7 + /- 5 at 12 weeks , P = .012 ; 4 + /- 4 to 4 + /- 4 vs 7 + /- 5 to 7 + /- 5 at the 3-month follow-up , P = .009 ) . CONCLUSIONS Women with DHF exhibit significant comorbidities and physical limitations . Home-based , low-to-moderate intensity exercise , in addition to education , is an effective strategy for improving the functional capacity and quality of life in women with DHF . Further study is needed to assess the long-term effect of exercise on clinical outcomes BACKGROUND participation in centre-based cardiac rehabilitation ( CR ) is known to reduce morbidity and mortality but participation rates among the elderly are low . Establishing alternative programmes is important , and home-based CR is the predominant alternative . However , no studies have investigated the effect of home-based CR among a group of elderly patients with coronary heart disease with a long-term follow-up . METHODS r and omised clinical trial comparing home-based CR with comprehensive centre-based CR among patients ≥ 65 years with coronary heart disease . RESULTS seventy-five patients participated . There were no significant differences in exercise capacity after the intervention between home and centre-based CR . Adjusted mean differences of peak VO₂ = 0.9 ml/kg/min ( 95 % CI -0.7 , 2.4 ) and of 6 min walk test = -18.7 m ( 95 % CI -56.4 , 18.9 ) . In addition , no differences were found in the secondary outcomes of systolic blood pressure ( -0.6 mmHg , 95 % CI -11.3 , 10.0 ) , LDL cholesterol ( 0.3 mmol/l , 95 % CI -0.04 , 0.7 ) , HDL cholesterol ( 0.2 mmol/l , 95 % CI -0.01 , 0.3 ) , body composition , proportion of smokers and health-related quality of life . A group of patients who did not have an effect of either programmes were characterised by higher age , living alone and having COPD . At 12 months of follow-up , both groups had a significant decline in exercise capacity . CONCLUSIONS home-based CR is as  effective as centre-based CR  in improving exercise capacity , risk factor control and health-related quality of life . However , a group of patients did not improve regardless of the type of intervention . Continued follow-up is essential in order to maintain the gained improvements Eleven patients with chronic heart failure secondary to ischaemic heart disease ( mean [ SEM ] age 63.0 [ 2.3 ] years ; left ventricular ejection fraction 19 [8]% undertook 8 weeks of home-based bicycle exercise training and 8 weeks of activity restriction ( rest ) in a physician-blind , r and om-order , crossover trial . Training increased exercise duration from 14.2 ( 1.1 ) min to 16.8 ( 1.3 ) min and peak oxygen consumption from 14.3 ( 1.1 ) ml.min-1.kg-1 to 16.7 ( 1.3 ) ml.min-1.kg-1 . Heart rates at submaximum workloads and rate-pressure products were significantly reduced by training , and there was also a significant improvement in patient-rated symptom scores . No adverse events occurred during the training phase . Thus home-based physical training programmes are feasible even in severe chronic heart failure and have a beneficial effect on exercise tolerance , peak oxygen consumption , and symptoms . The commonly held belief that rest is the mainstay of treatment of chronic heart failure should no longer be accepted Background Exercise has been shown to be beneficial for selected patients with heart failure , but questions remain over its effectiveness , cost-effectiveness and uptake in a real world setting . This paper describes the design , rationale and recruitment for a r and omised controlled trial that will explore the effectiveness and uptake of a predominantly home-based exercise rehabilitation programme , as well as its cost-effectiveness and patient acceptability . Methods / design R and omised controlled trial comparing specialist heart failure nurse care plus a nurse-led predominantly home-based exercise intervention against specialist heart failure nurse care alone in a multiethnic city population , served by two NHS Trusts and one primary care setting , in the United Kingdom.169 English speaking patients with stable heart failure , defined as systolic impairment ( ejection fraction ≤ 40 % ) . with one or more hospital admissions with clinical heart failure or New York Heart Association ( NYHA ) II/III within previous 24-months were recruited . Main outcome measures at 1 year : Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Question naire , incremental shuttle walk test , death or admission with heart failure or myocardial infa rct ion , health care utilisation and costs . Interviews with purposive sample s of patients to gain qualitative information about acceptability and adherence to exercise , views about their treatment , self-management of their heart failure and reasons why some patients declined to participate . The records of 1639 patients managed by specialist heart failure services were screened , of which 997 ( 61 % ) were ineligible , due to ejection fraction>40 % , current NYHA IV , no admission or NYHA II or more within the previous 2 years , or serious co-morbidities preventing physical activity . 642 patients were contacted : 289 ( 45 % ) declined to participate , 183 ( 39 % ) had an exclusion criterion and 169 ( 26 % ) agreed to r and omisation . Discussion Due to safety considerations for home-exercise less than half of patients treated by specialist heart failure services were eligible for the study . Many patients had co-morbidities preventing exercise and others had concerns about undertaking an exercise programme Objective To compare home-based cardiac rehabilitation ( CR ) with usual care ( control group with no rehabilitation ) in elderly patients who declined participation in centre-based CR . Design R and omised clinical trial with 12 months follow-up and mortality data after 5.5 years ( mean follow-up 4½ years ) . Setting Rehabilitation unit , Department of Cardiology , Copenhagen , Denmark . Participants Elderly patients ≥65 years with coronary heart disease . Intervention A physiotherapist made home visits in order to develop an individualised exercise programme that could be performed at home and surrounding outdoor area . Risk factor intervention , medical adjustment , physical and psychological assessment s were offered at baseline and after 3 , 6 and 12 months . Main outcome measurements The primary outcome was 6 min walk test ( 6MWT ) . Secondary outcomes were blood pressure , body composition , cholesterol profile , cessation of smoking , health-related quality of life ( HRQoL ) , anxiety and depression . Results 40 patients participated . The study population was characterised by high age ( median age 77 years , range 65–92 years ) and high level of comorbidity . Patients receiving home-based CR had a significant increase in the primary outcome 6MWT of 33.5 m ( 95 % CI : 6.2 to 60.8 , p=0.02 ) at 3 months , whereas the usual care group did not significantly improve , but with no significant differences between the groups . At 12 months follow-up , there was a decline in 6MWT in both groups ; −55.2 m ( 95 % CI : 18.7 to 91.7 , p<0.01 ) in the home group and −52.1 m ( 95 % CI : −3.0 to 107.1 , p=0.06 ) in the usual care group . There were no significant differences in blood pressure , body composition , cholesterol profile , cessation of smoking or HRQoL after 3 , 6 and 12 months follow-up . Conclusions Participation in home-based CR improved exercise capacity among elderly patients with coronary heart disease , but there was no significant difference between the home intervention and the control group . In addition , no significant difference was found in the secondary outcomes . When intervention ceased , the initial increase in exercise capacity was rapidly lost Purpose To compare the effects of home-based and hospital-based exercise programs on exercise capacity , quality of life , psychological symptoms , and hemodynamic parameters in heart failure ( HF ) patients . Methods Seventy-four patients were r and omized into either a hospital-based exercise  ( Group 1 ) or a  home-based exercise ( Group 2 ) group . Prior to and after the 8-week rehabilitation program , the two groups were compared with respect to their functional capacity [ maximal oxygen uptake ( pVO2 ) and 6-min walk test ( 6MWT ) ] , quality of life ( Medical Outcomes Study and the 36-item Short Form Survey , SF-36 ) , psychological symptoms [ Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI ) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory ] , and hemodynamic parameters [ ( left ventricular diastolic diameter in diastole , left ventricular diameter in systole , Mitral Early diastolic peak flow velocity (E)/late diastolic peak flow velocity ( A ) , Mitral E/Mitral early peak velocity ( Em ) , Tei index , right ventricular systolic peak velocity ( Sm ) , tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion , systolic pulmonary arterial pressure ( SPAP ) , and left and right ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF and RVEF ) ] . Results After the exercise programs , significant improvement was observed in pVO2 , 6MWT and subscales of physical function , general health , and vitality of SF 36 , as well as BDI and LVEF in both groups ( P < 0.05 ) . A comparison of the two exercise groups revealed no significant differences between them regarding the analyzed variables ( P > 0.05 ) . Conclusion Both the hospital-based and home-based exercise groups improved significantly in functional capacity , quality of life , depression symptoms , and LVEF . Based on these results , we believe that physicians can recommend home-based exercise under strict supervision for stable HF patients . However , additional research should be conducted in this area Aims : To determine whether a home-based exercise program is able to increase functional capacity ( FC ) and reduce heart rate variability ( HRV ) in postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease . Background : Regular exercise training has been shown to improve both FC and HRV . However , those studies were conducted within institutional training programs , and few have included women . Methods : Thirty-two postmenopausal women were r and omly assigned to either an experimental or control group with 16 participants in each group . Those in the experimental group underwent home-based exercise training , 3 times a week for 8 weeks . On the first and final week , each participant 's HRV was measured , and their FC was evaluated using a 6-minute walking test . Findings : After 8 weeks , the FC of those who had undergone the home-based exercise program showed a significant improvement compared with subjects in the control group ( P = .001 ) . The total power ( ms2 ) , high-frequency ( ms2 ) , and low-frequency ( ms2 ) indexes of HRV were also significantly improved over control values . Conclusion : In postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease , a home-based exercise program appears able to improve FC and HRV Background Exercise is an essential component of contemporary cardiac rehabilitation programs for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease . Despite the benefits associated with regular exercise , adherence with supervised exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation remains low . Increasingly powerful mobile technologies , such as smartphones and wireless physiological sensors , may extend the capability of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation by enabling real-time exercise monitoring for those with coronary heart disease . This study compares the effectiveness of technology-assisted , home-based , remote monitored exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation ( REMOTE ) to st and ard supervised exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in New Zeal and adults with a diagnosis of coronary heart disease . Methods / Design A two-arm , parallel , non-inferiority , r and omised controlled trial will be conducted at two sites in New Zeal and . One hundred and sixty two participants will be r and omised at a 1:1 ratio to receive a 12-week program of technology-assisted , home-based , remote monitored exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation ( intervention ) , or an 8 - 12 program of st and ard supervised exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (control).The primary outcome is post-treatment maximal oxygen uptake ( V̇O2max ) . Secondary outcomes include cardiovascular risk factors ( blood lipid and glucose concentrations , blood pressure , anthropometry ) , self-efficacy , intentions and motivation to be active , objective ly measured physical activity , self-reported leisure time exercise and health-related quality of life . Cost information will also be collected to compare the two modes of delivery . All outcomes are assessed at baseline , post-treatment , and 6 months , except for V̇O2max , blood lipid and glucose concentrations , which are assessed at baseline and post-treatment only . Discussion This novel study will compare the effectiveness of technology-supported exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation to a traditional supervised approach . If the REMOTE program proves to be as effective as traditional cardiac rehabilitation , it has potential to augment current practice by increasing access for those who can not utilise existing services . Trial registration Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry Study ID number : ACTRN12614000843651 . Registered 7 August Background : In heart failure , reduced physical activity level can adversely affect physical and psychosocial functioning . No previous heart failure research has compared effects of home and hospital-based exercise training upon physical activity level , or has objective ly assessed their long-term effects upon physical activity . This study used an activPAL ™ monitor to examine immediate and long-term effects of home and hospital-based aerobic exercise training upon physical activity level . Design : R and omized controlled trial . Methods : Sixty patients with heart failure ( mean age 66 years ; NYHA class II/III ; 51 male/9 female ) were r and omized to home training , hospital training or control .  Both programmes consisted of aerobic circuit training , undertaken twice a week for one hour , for eight weeks . All participants wore the activPAL ™ at baseline , and after eight weeks , for one week . Six months after cessation of training , a subgroup of participants from the home and hospital training groups ( n = 10 from each group ) wore the activPAL ™ for a further week . Results : Hospital-based training significantly increased steps taken per day during ‘ extra long ’ ( P = 0.04 ) and ‘ long ’ ( P = 0.01 ) walks . Neither programme had any immediate effect upon physical activity level otherwise . Though daily upright duration for the home group significantly improved six months after cessation of training ( P = 0.02 ) , generally physical activity level was maintained in the long term for both training groups . Conclusions : Hospital-based training enabled participants to walk for longer periods . It is clinical ly important that both training groups maintained physical activity level in the long term , given the potential for heart failure to worsen over this time period Background Exercise is important for fitness and recovery of older adults after hospitalization for treatment of cardiovascular disease . Home-based , nurse-led exercise programs may be beneficial . Objective The aim of this study was to test the effects of a low-intensity , home-based exercise protocol led by an advanced practice nurse on health-related quality of life ( HRQOL ) , physical fitness , and left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF ) in older adults after hospital discharge with a cardiovascular disease diagnosis . Methods The study was r and omized and single blinded . Seventy-seven older adults ( ≥75 years old , mean = 80.68 years old ) were included ; 32 subjects in the intervention and 29 in the  control group completed the study . The low-intensity , home-based exercise protocol is composed of 14-type joint exercises and walking for 12 weeks . The main outcome measures were assessment s on the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-36 , the Senior Fitness Test , and LVEF at baseline and 12 weeks after hospital discharge . Results After 12 weeks , the intervention group showed significant improvements in HRQOL ( physical functioning , role-physical , bodily pain , and vitality ; p < .05 ) as well as on the Senior Fitness Test ( chair st and s , arm curls , Timed Up and Go , and 6-minute walk distance ; p < .05 ) ; there was no significant improvement in LVEF ( p = .56 ) . Conclusions The low-intensity , home-based exercise led by an advanced practice nurse was effective in improving HRQOL and physical fitness . Adherence was high , and there were no adverse events related to exercise
Home-based exercise increased exercise capacity safely but did not improve quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure .
It could therefore be used to improve the management of people with chronic heart failure who do not have access to hospital-based exercise
QUESTIONS Does home-based exercise improve exercise capacity and quality of life in people with chronic heart failure ?
Is it safe ?