Moderate intensity exercise training in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: functional and structural benefits (The MIET-HFpEF trial)

Abstract Background Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents more than one half of the heart failure cases worldwide with increased morbidity and mortality. No proven medical treatment till now have shown mortality benefit in HFpEF. This study aims to elucidate the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in HFpEF. Methods Sixty patients with HFpEF were included in 2 groups with 1:1 randomization.Group1 received usual medical care plus 2–3 rehabilitation sessions per week using moderate exercise with 40–75% of heart rate reserve on treadmill (up to 60 minutes according to the functional capacity). Group 2 received only usual medical care. Comparison between the 2 groups recording the percentage of improvement in echocardiographic diastolic function parameters, Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLWHFQ) and 6 -minute walk test at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results Group 1 showed significant improvement in the following: a. MLWHFQ (total score mean percentage of reduction) 305.60±158.44 versus (vs) 69.44±17.71 (p<0.001).b. E/e' mean percentage of reduction 65.96±34.55 vs 18.23±13.98 (p<0.001). c. Left atrial (LA) volume index mean percentage of reduction 27.86±13.27 vs 8.03±4.40 (p<0.001). d. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure mean percentage of reduction was 33.85±14.68 vs 22.97±16.54 (p=0.02). e. 6–minute walk test 111.79±40.97 vs 46.33±11.58 (p<0.001). f. Body mass index percentage of reduction 10.17±3.64 vs 2.80±1.60 (p<0.001). g. Percentage of patients with down-grading of the degree of diastolic dysfunction: 10 patients (33.3%) vs 3 patients (10%) (P=0.028). h. However, there were no significant differences in left ventricular ejection fraction or other parameters as E/A ratio, LA dimension, isovolumetric relaxation time, degree of left ventricular hypertrophy. Conclusion CR not only added significant functional improvement in the quality of life and functional capacity in patients with HFpEF but also a significant structural improvement by improving the core items of diastolic function. In the light of the results of this study, we can recommend CR as a part of HFpEF management. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.