Effects of long‐term endurance and resistance training on diastolic function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction vs. heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

ABSTRACT Background The long‐term effects of exercise training (ET) in diastolic dysfunction (DD) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are unknown. The present study compared the long‐term effects of ET on exercise capacity, diastolic function, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with DD vs. HFpEF. Methods A total of n = 43 patients with asymptomatic DD (n = 19) or HFpEF [DD and New York Heart Association (NYHA) ≥II, n = 24] and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50% performed a combined endurance/resistance training over 6 months (2–3/week) on top of usual care. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing, echocardiography, and QoL were obtained at baseline and follow‐up. Results Patients were 62 ± 8 years old (37% female). In the HFpEF group, 67% of patients were in NYHA class II (33% in NYHA III). Exercise capacity (peak oxygen consumption, peak VO2) differed at baseline (DD 29.2 ± 8.7 mL/min/kg vs. HFpEF 17.8 ± 4.6 mL/min/kg; P = 0.004). After 6 months, peak VO2 increased significantly (P