Five-year follow-up findings from a randomized controlled trial of cardiac rehabilitation for heart failure

Jacky Austin, Robert Williams, Linda Ross, Stephen Hutchison

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background.

A follow-up study was carried out on the 5-year status of the surviving patients (n-179 at 6 months) of a 24-week randomized controlled trial comparing cardiac rehabilitation (CR) with heart failure outpatient clinic care (standard care). Methods. In the original randomized controlled trial, 200 patients (60-89 years, 132 men) with New York Heart Association II/III heart failure confirmed by echocardiography had been randomized (2000-2001). At the 5-year follow-up, the initial trial measures (6-min walk test, Minnesota living with heart failure, EuroQol health-related quality of life, and routine biochemistry) were repeated if the patient was in a satisfactory condition. Data on deaths and admissions were obtained from the medical records department.

Results.

Over half of the original participants (n=199, 59.5%) were alive at 5 years (mean age 75.2 years), and most 94%) attended the clinic for assessment. A sustained improvement from baseline for both groups in Minnesota living with heart failure, but not in EuroQol was observed and the majority of the other measures had deteriorated. In contract to the Cr group, the standard care group showed a significant deterioration in walking distance (5 versus 11?; Pandlt;0.05). More patients in the CR group were taking regular exercise (71 versus 51%; Pandlt;0.05). No significant differences between the groups in health care utilization or survival were observed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)162 - 167
Number of pages5
JournalEuropean Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation
Volume15
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

Keywords

  • cardiac rehabilitation
  • elderly
  • functional status
  • health-related quality of life
  • heart failure

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