The effects of six-minute walking exercise on exercise tolerance and the left ventricular diastolic function of heart failure patients with a normal ejection fraction / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of 6-minutes of walking exercise (6-MWE) on the exercise tolerance and left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) of heart failure patients with a normal ejection fraction (HFNEFs).Methods Ninety grade Ⅱ or Ⅲ HFNEFs of the New York heart association (NYHA) were randomly divided into an exercise training group and a control group with 45 cases in each.The control group was treated with routine drugs.The exercise training group was treated with the same drugs plus 6-MWE.Before and after the sixmonth period of treatment,plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were determined,each subject's left atrial volume index (LAVI) was measured with a color ultrasonic cardiogram (UCG),and their 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD) was measured.Results Plasma NT-proBNP levels and 6-MWD improved significantly comparing with before treatment in both groups.The average 6-MWD,LAVI and plasma NT-proBNP level all improved significantly more in the experimental group.Conclusion 6-MWE can significantly improve the exercise tolerance and LVDF of HFNEFs,and improve their quality of life.Walking can be helpful in delaying the development of HFNEF.