Physical Activity Program on Clinical Output in Heart Failure

The Effect of the Physical Activity Program on Quality of Life, Functional Capacity and Mortality Risk Level in Individuals With Heart Failure

Background: This study was carried out to determine the effect of physical activity program applied to individuals with heart failure on quality of life, functional capacity and mortality risk level.

Objective: The study, which was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study, was completed with a total of 40 HF patients, 20 of whom were interventions and 20 were controls. A physical activity program lasting at least 30 minutes each session was applied to HF patients in the intervention group, three days a week for three months, and the walks of the patients were followed by a pedometer.

Background: This study was carried out to determine the effect of physical activity program applied to individuals with heart failure on quality of life, functional capacity and mortality risk level.

Objective: The study, which was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study, was completed with a total of 40 HF patients, 20 of whom were interventions and 20 were controls. A physical activity program lasting at least 30 minutes each session was applied to HF patients in the intervention group, three days a week for three months, and the walks of the patients were followed by a pedometer. At the same time, a monthly home visit and weekly phone call were made to the patients. No intervention was applied to the patients in the control group, apart from weekly phone calls. All patients were receiving optimal stable HF therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Over 18 years of age,
• Class I, II, III according to NYHA classification,
• Without any diagnosis of musculoskeletal deformity or disease that may prevent them from doing physical activity,
• Hypertension stage 1 and 2,
• Stable chronic disease processes such as diabetes,
• Patients whose treatment for these diagnoses has not been changed in the last month,
• Dyspnea status less than 4-5 degrees according to the Modified Borg Scale,
• Cognitive competence,
• At least primary school graduates

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known and diagnosed moderate or severe mitral/aortic regurgitation, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, uncontrollable arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation etc.), bundle branch block on ECG,
• Acute myocardial infarction in the last three months,
• Unstable angina pectoris, pacemaker, valve surgery, coronary artery bypass surgery history, newly diagnosed or suspected thromboembolic event,
• Diagnosed with cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular insufficiency, other chronic diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney failure, pulmonary emphysema, rheumatic valve disease, cancer diagnosis),
• Chronic fatigue syndrome