Article

Exercise training is an established modality in chronic heart
failure. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is an effective alternative mode
of training in patients unwilling or unable to exercise; however, it has not been
investigated in elderly patients. We sought to investigate the effects of FES on
functional status, quality of life, emotional status and endothelial function in
chronic heart failure patients aged 70 years or higher. METHODS: Thirty patients
with stable systolic chronic heart failure (mean age 75 +/- 3 years, New York
Heart Association (NYHA) class II/III, 37%/63%) randomly underwent a six-week FES
training programme or placebo. Questionnaires addressing quality of life (Kansas
City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), functional and overall) and emotional
stress (Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS), Beck Depression Inventory
(BDI)), as well as endothelial function (flow-mediated dilatation) were assessed
at baseline and upon protocol completion. RESULTS: A significant improvement in
NYHA class (p=0.005), KCCQ-functional (F=68.6, p for interaction<0.001),
KCCQ-overall (F=66.9, p<0.001), BDI (F=66.3, p<0.001) and Zung SDS (F=95.1,
p<0.001) was observed in the FES group compared to placebo. Patients in the FES
group also had a significant increase in flow-mediated dilatation compared with
placebo (F=59.1, p<0.01). FES-induced per cent change in flow-mediated dilatation
was significantly correlated with respective per cent change in KCCQ functional
(r=0.386, p=0.039). CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, FES effectively improved
functional status, quality of life, motional stress and endothelial function in
elderly chronic heart failure patients and warrants further investigation in this
particular group of patients.
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Langue : ANGLAIS