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European Journal of Heart Failure 2006 8(3):243-248; doi:10.1016/j.ejheart.2005.07.011
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© 2005 European Society of Cardiology

Maximum oxygen uptake corrected for skeletal muscle mass accurately predicts functional improvements following exercise training in chronic heart failure

John P. LeMaitre, Stuart Harris, Jim Hannan, Keith A.A. Fox and Martin A. Denvir*

Cardiology, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh United Kingdom

* Corresponding author. Cardiology, Western General Hospital Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU. E-mail address: mdenvir{at}staffmail.ed.ac.uk


   Abstract

Background: Skeletal muscle mass and peak oxygen uptake are important predictors of functional status and outcome in patients with stable chronic heart failure.

Aims: To assess changes in skeletal muscle mass and peak oxygen uptake following an exercise training program.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with moderate stable chronic heart failure were randomly allocated to either a bicycle ergometer (bike) or functional electrical muscle stimulators (FES) applied to quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles to be used daily for six weeks. Dual-energy X-ray absorptionometry (DEXA) scanning was performed before and after training along with symptom limited cardiopulmonary exercise test, quadriceps strength and fatigue resistance, and 6-min walk test.

Results: Both exercise modalities resulted in improvements in treadmill exercise time, leg strength, 6-min walk test and peak oxygen uptake per kilogram of skeletal muscle. Despite significant improvements in functional capacity, there were no significant changes in body composition for total skeletal muscle mass, leg muscle mass or total body fat content. Skeletal muscle mass was strongly predictive of maximum oxygen uptake at baseline (r=0.61, p<0.001) and after exercise training (r=0.68, p<0.001).

Conclusions: In moderate stable chronic heart failure, exercise training using bicycle ergometer or FES results in favourable qualitative rather than quantitative changes in skeletal muscle. Correction of maximum oxygen uptake for skeletal muscle mass rather than total body mass is a more sensitive measure of changes associated with exercise training.

Key Words: Chronic heart failure • Dual energy X-ray absorptionometry • Body composition • Exercise training

Received March 5, 2005; Revised June 27, 2005; Accepted July 26, 2005


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