Abstract

Purpose

Less than 10% of heart failure patients in the UK participate in cardiac rehabilitation programmes. The present pilot study evaluated feasibility, acceptability and physiological effects of a novel, personalised, home-based physical activity intervention in chronic heart failure.

Methods

Twenty patients (68 ± 7 years old, 20% females) with stable chronic heart failure due to reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (31 ± 8 %) participated in a single-group, pilot study assessing the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week personalised home-based physical activity intervention aiming to increase daily number of steps by 2000 from baseline (Active-at-Home-HF). Patients completed cardiopulmonary exercise testing with non-invasive gas exchange and haemodynamic measurements and quality of life questionnaire pre- and post-intervention. Patients were supported weekly via telephone and average weekly step count data collected using pedometers.

Results

Forty-three patients were screened and 20 recruited into the study. Seventeen patients (85%) completed the intervention, and 15 (75%) achieved the target step count. Average step count per day increased significantly from baseline to 3 weeks by 2546 (5108 ± 3064 to 7654 ± 3849, P = 0.03, n = 17) and was maintained until week 12 (9022 ± 3942). Following completion of the intervention, no adverse events were recorded and quality of life improved by 4 points (26 ± 18 vs. 22 ± 19). Peak exercise stroke volume increased by 19% (127 ± 34 vs. 151 ± 34 m/beat, P = 0.05), while cardiac index increased by 12% (6.8 ± 1.5 vs. 7.6 ± 2.0 L/min/m2, P = 0.19). Workload and oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold also increased by 16% (49 ± 16 vs. 59 ± 14 watts, P = 0.01) and 10% (11.5 ± 2.9 vs. 12.8 ± 2.2 ml/kg/min, P = 0.39).

Conclusion

The Active-at-Home-HF intervention is feasible, acceptable and effective for increasing physical activity in CHF. It may lead to improvements in quality of life, exercise tolerance and haemodynamic function.

Trial Registration

www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT0367727. Retrospectively registered on 17 September 2018.

Details

Title
Acceptability, Feasibility and Preliminary Evaluation of a Novel, Personalised, Home-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Chronic Heart Failure (Active-at-Home-HF): a Pilot Study
Author
Okwose, Nduka C 1 ; Avery, Leah 2 ; Nicola O’Brien 3 ; Cassidy, Sophie 1 ; Charman, Sarah J 1 ; Bailey, Kristian 4 ; Lazar Velicki 5 ; Olivotto, Iacopo 6 ; Brennan, Paul 7 ; MacGowan, Guy A 8 ; Jakovljevic, Djordje G 9 

 Cardiovascular Research Theme, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK 
 Centre for Rehabilitation, Exercise and Sports Science, School of Health & Social Care, Teesside University, Tees Valley, UK 
 Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK 
 Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK 
 Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia 
 Cardiomyopathy Unit and Genetic Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy 
 Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Institute of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK 
 Cardiovascular Research Theme, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Institute of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK 
 Cardiovascular Research Theme, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; RCUK Centre for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK 
Pages
1-9
Publication year
2019
Publication date
Dec 2019
Publisher
Springer Nature B.V.
ISSN
21991170
e-ISSN
21989761
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2319116951
Copyright
Sports Medicine - Open is a copyright of Springer, (2019). All Rights Reserved., © 2019. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.