Interval training early after heart failure decompensation is safe and improves exercise tolerance and quality of life in selected patients

AimsTo evaluate safety and efficacy of moderate intensity interval exercise training early after heart failure decompensation on exercise tolerance and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).Methods and resultsThis is a prospective randomized controlled study. We screened 234 consecutive patients admitted with decompensated heart failure; 46 patients (42 men/4 women; 61 ± 12 years of age) were randomized to a moderate intensity aerobic interval training (n = 24) or to a control group (n = 22). Patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing, echocardiography and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire (MLHFQ) at baseline, after three weeks and after three months. After three weeks, peak-VO2 increased by 17% in the training group (p = 0.003) with further increase by 10% after three months (p < 0.001) but did not change significantly in controls. MLHFQ score improved after three weeks, with better results in the training group (from 64.6 ± 15.6 to 30.8 ± 12.9, p < 0.001). After three months, M...