Effects of Low-Intensity Exercise in Older Adults With Chronic Heart Failure During the Transitional Period From Hospital to Home in China: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The transitional period from hospital to home is critical to decreasing rates of preventable, poor post-discharge outcomes. Older adults with chronic heart failure (CHF) may be challenged to exercise during the transitional period. The purpose of the current study was to test the effects of low-intensity exercise on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical function, and heart function in Chinese older adults with CHF during the transitional period. The study was randomized, single-blinded, and controlled. Seventy-eight older adults with stable CHF were evaluated. The intervention group (n = 41) participated in a regular low-intensity walking protocol and the control group (n = 38) did not. Measures included the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, resting heart rate (RHR), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). After 12 weeks, the intervention group showed significant improvements in MLHFQ, 6MWD, and TUG scores compared to the control group (p < 0.05), and no significant improvements in RHR and LVEF (p > 0.05). Low-intensity exercise during the transitional period is an effective way to improve HRQoL and physical function in older adults. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2017; 10(3):121-128.].