Article

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a leading cause of morbidity in the
industrialized world; both men and women are affected in significant numbers.
However, women are underrepresented in heart failure literature, and there is
limited evidence of their cardiac rehabilitation outcomes. The purpose of this
study was to examine the efficacy of a cardiac rehabilitation program in female
CHF patients. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, 60 female CHF subjects
(median age, 59 years; median ejection fraction, 30%) were compared with 172 male
CHF subjects (median age, 60 years; median ejection fraction, 27%), who completed
an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program. Self-reported exercise levels and
intensity, fitness (6-minute walk test [6MWT]), and depressed mood (Cardiac
Depression Scale) were recorded and compared at admission and discharge.
Questionnaires were also re-administered at patient review conducted 3 months
postdischarge. RESULTS: Both female and male subjects made significant
improvements in exercise levels (P < .05), exercise intensity (P < .001), fitness
(P < .001), and mood (P < .001) during rehabilitation. Women showed significantly
greater improvement in 6MWT results by discharge (P = .007) compared with men. At
discharge, fewer women than men (78% vs 88%) reported exercising to adequate
levels (>/= 150 minutes/week), but this had reversed at 3 months postdischarge.
CONCLUSIONS: Women with heart failure demonstrate similar patterns of improvement
during cardiac rehabilitation compared with men and, in fact, show greater
improvements in fitness and longer term exercise levels. Low to moderate
intensity cardiac rehabilitation is both safe and effective in this group.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI