Effects of aerobic exercise on exercise tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure

To explore the effects of aerobic exercise on exercise tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). A total of 50 CHF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 49% by echocardiography were enrolled. And they were randomly divided into exercise group (n = 25) and non-exercise group (n = 25). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed. The patients of exercise group underwent an aerobic exercise program in which exercise intensity was decided by anaerobic threshold (AT) before 10 J/s while those of non-exercise group performed daily activities. After 6 sessions of supervised aerobic exercise, the home-based aerobic exercise training began. CPET was re-examined 3 months later. The VO(2) AT, VO(2) peak, Load AT, Load peak, peak VO(2)/HR and VE/VCO(2) slope at baseline were similar between exercise group and non-exercise group (P > 0.05). The VO(2) AT, VO(2) peak, Load AT, Load peak and peak VO(2)/HR in patients of exercise group were increased compared with baseline, The diff