Exercise Training in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Exercise training (ET) is highly beneficial in heart failure patients and has been suggested to confer significant symptomatic and functional improvements in patients with diastolic dysfunction. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine the safety, feasibility of a structured ET program in symptomatic HCM patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• NYHA 3
• Maximal left ventricular wall thickness > 20 mm
• Age >18

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe non-cardiac limitations of functional capacity such as neurological illness, lung disease, peripheral vascular or orthopedic problem, etc.
• Patients state post resuscitation for malignant ventricular arrhythmia.
• History of effort induced syncope, complex ventricular arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation.
• An exercise-induced decrease in blood pressure
• Severe left ventricular outflow obstruction defined as resting outflow gradient > 50 mmHg on maximal therapy
• Atrial fibrillation with a poorly controlled ventricular response
• Advanced hypokinetic stage of HCM defined as LVEF < 40%
• Congestive heart failure of angina FC IV according to NYHA or CCS respectively.