Predictors of exercise training response in heart failure patients

Abstract

Despite advances in treatment of heart failure (HF), mortality remains high in these patients and many have exercise intolerance and dyspnea. Small studies and meta-analysis suggested that physical exercise promotes improvement of symptoms and reduces mortality. However, more recently, a randomized clinical trial found no benefit on survival or hospitalization with physical training in patients with HF. A limitation of this study was the modest improvement in peak oxygen consumption in the trained group, which may have influenced results. Objective: To identify variables and markers that predict response to continuous and interval exercise in patients with HF, as measured by the increase in peak oxygen consumption during cardiopulmonary exercise testing.Methods: 40 patients will be included with a diagnosis of heart failure, who attended the research project "Interval training versus continuous training on sympathetic activity and peripheral perfusion in patients with heart failure: a randomized study with control group."approved by the Foundation for Research of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP), process number 2010/08990-1 where they will be randomized into three groups: exercise training interval, continuous or control group. Plasma levels of inflammatory markers, microRNAs, atrial natriuretic peptide, adiponectin, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing parameters prior physical inactivity are the variables to be measured before and after the exercise program, which will last three months. These variables will be correlated with the response to exercise, measured by the change in peak oxygen consumption. (AU)