Exercise training in Diastolic Heart Failure (Ex-DHF): rationale and design of a multicentre, prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel group trial.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a common disease with high incidence and increasing prevalence. Patients suffer from functional limitation, poor health-related quality of life, and reduced prognosis. A pilot study in a smaller group of HFpEF patients showed that structured, supervised exercise training (ET) improves maximal exercise capacity, diastolic function, and physical quality of life. However, the long-term effects of ET on patient-related outcomes remain unclear in HFpEF. The primary objective of the Exercise training in Diastolic Heart Failure (Ex-DHF) trial is to investigate whether a 12 month supervised ET can improve a clinically meaningful composite outcome score in HFpEF patients. Components of the outcome score are all-cause mortality, hospitalizations, NYHA functional class, global self-rated health, maximal exercise capacity, and diastolic function. After undergoing baseline assessments to determine whether ET can be performed safely, 320 patients at 11 trial sites with stable HFpEF are randomized 1:1 to supervised ET in addition to usual care or to usual care alone. Patients randomized to ET perform supervised endurance/resistance ET (3 times/week at a certified training centre) for 12 months. At baseline and during follow-up, anthropometry, echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and health-related quality of life evaluation are performed. Blood samples are collected to examine various biomarkers. Overall physical activity, training sessions, and adherence are monitored and documented throughout the study using patient diaries, heart rate monitors, and accelerometers. The Ex-DHF trial is the first multicentre trial to assess the long-term effects of a supervised ET programme on different outcome measures in patients with HFpEF.

Effect of exercise on diastolic function in heart failure patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diastolic dysfunction contributes to the development and progression of heart failure. Conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging are widely utilised in clinical research providing a number of indices of diastolic function valuable in the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure patients. The aim of this meta-analysis was to quantify the effect of exercise training on diastolic function in patients with heart failure. Exercise training studies that investigate different indices of diastolic function in patients with heart failure have reported that exercise training improves diastolic function in these patients. We sought to add to the current literature by quantifying, where possible, the effect of exercise training on diastolic function. We conducted database searches (PubMed, EBSCO, EMBASE, and Cochrane Trials Register to 31 July 2016) for exercise based rehabilitation trials in heart failure, using the search terms 'exercise training, diastolic function and diastolic dysfunction'. Data from six studies, with a total of 266 heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) participants, 144 in intervention groups and 122 in control groups, indicated a significant reduction in the ratio of early diastolic transmitral velocity (E) to early diastolic tissue velocity (E') (E/E' ratio) with exercise training, exercise vs. control mean difference (MD) of -2.85 (95% CI -3.66 to -2.04, p < 0.00001). Data from five studies in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients, with a total of 204 participants, 115 in intervention groups and 89 in control groups, also demonstrated a significant improvement in E/E' in exercise vs. control MD of -2.38 (95% CI -3.47 to -1.28, p < 0.0001).

Ventilação não invasiva na capacidade funcional de cardiopatas com fração de ejeção ventricular normal / Noninvasive ventilation in functional capacity of cardiac patients with normal fraction ventricular ejection

Introdução: A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) é um problema de saúde pública com altos níveis de morbimortalidade apresentando como sinais clínicos característicos a fadiga e dispneia precoce que geram limitações funcionais. Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da ventilação não invasiva (VNI) na capacidade funcional de portadores de insuficiência cardíaca estável com fração de ejeção normal, avaliada através do teste da caminhada de seis minutos em esteira (TC6est). Métodos: Após a avaliação das provas de função pulmonar, os pacientes com IC estudados foram submetidos aos seguintes testes: 3 TC6est (uso prévio da VNI por 30 minutos, com uso da VNI durante o teste e sem uso da VNI) e a um teste de caminhada de 6 minutos em solo (TC6'). Nós comparamos a distância percorrida e variáveis cardiorrespiratórias: antes, durante e após os testes da caminhada. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 13 pacientes com IC classe funcional II e III (NYHA). Na prova de função pulmonar 3 participantes apresentaram distúrbio ventilatório restritivo e 8 pacientes apresentaram redução das pressões respiratórias máximas. Não foi observada diferença estatisticamente significativa na distância percorrida entre os quatro testes realizados (p=0,986). Na análise das variáveis cardiorrespiratórias durante os 3 TC6est pôde-se observar apenas diferença estatística significativa na frequência respiratória no sexto minuto (f6') entre os testes de 30' antes de VNI X VNI durante (p=0,026), sendo inferior no teste com a aplicação de VNI durante. Conclusão: Apesar do comprometimento da capacidade funcional e da função pulmonar, os portadores de insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção normal estudados não tiveram aumento da distância percorrida no teste de caminhada em esteira com a utilização do suporte ventilatório não­invasivo.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a public health problem with high morbidity levels and mortality, presenting fatigue and early dyspnea as clinical signs characteristic that generate functional limitations. Objective: To evaluate the noninvasive ventilation (NIV) effects in functional capacity of patients with stable heart failure with a normal ejection fraction, evaluated using six-minute treadmill walk (tread- 6MWT). Method: After pulmonary function tests evaluation, the patients with HF studied were submitted to the following tests: 3 tread6MWT (previous use of NIV for 30 minutes, use of NIV during the test and without use of NIV) and one test 6-minute test soil (6MWT). They compared the walking distance (WD) and cardiorespiratory variables: before, during and after the walking tests. Results: 13 patients with class II and III HF (NYHA) participated in the study. In the pulmonary function test, 3 participants presented restrictive ventilatory disorder and 8 patients had a reduction in maximum respiratory pressures. There was no statistically significant difference in distance between the four tests performed (p = 0.986). In the analysis of the cardiorespiratory variables during the 3 tread6MWT, only a significant statistical difference in the respiratory rate in the sixth minute (f6 ') between the tests 30' before NIV X NIV during (p =0.026) was observed, being lower in the test with the application of NIV during the test. Conclusion: Despite the functional capacity impairment and lung function, patients with heart failure with normal ejection fraction studied did not increase the distance walked on the treadmill treadmill test with non-invasive ventilatory support.

Impact of lifestyle modification on left ventricular function and cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in patients with heart failure with normal ejection fraction and cardiometabolic syndrome: a prospective interventional study.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (HFNEF) accounts for about one third of all heart failure patients with considerable mortality. The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a risk factor for diastolic dysfunction and HFNEF. We hypothesized that modifying metabolic burden by exercise training and weight loss might improve left ventricular diastolic function, heart failure symptoms and rehospitalization rate. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty patients with HFNEF, MS and prediabetes were enrolled in this prospective study. Echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) were done at baseline and after 3 months lifestyle modification (LSM). NT-pro BNP and adiponectin were determined at baseline as both peptidehormones play a crucial role in MS and heart failure. After discharge a 3-month LSM program with the aim of weight reduction by diet and exercise was started. After the intervention period a weight reduction of ≥ 2% was defined as successful LSM (group A = 23 patients), while a weight reduction < 2% was classified as unsuccessful LSM (group B = 17 patients). At baseline NT-pro BNP (424 ± 381 versus 121 ± 99 pg/ml, P < 0.01) and adiponectin (10.1 ± 6.2 versus 4.6-2.0 µg/ml, P < 0.01) were higher in group A than in group B. After 3 months of LSM, CPET showed a significant improve- ment of VO2 peak (P < 0.01), EqCO2 (P < 0.001), O2-pulse (P = 0.02) and VE / VCO2 slope (P = 0.01) in group A. After one year of follow-up a modest but significant reduction of left atrial size and mitral flow to mitral annulus velocity ratio E/E' was seen in group A. LSM resulted in significant improvement of NYHA status (P = 0.03) and higher freedom of rehospitalization (P = 0.04) in group A. CONCLUSION: Successful lifestyle modification in obese, prediabetic patients with HFNEF improves diastolic left ventricular function and cardiopulmonary exercise capacity. As these measures result in improved NYHA status and less hospitalization, LSM might be a promising approach to prevent chronic diastolic heart failure.