Related Experiment Videos
Exercise training during chronic beta blockade in cardiovascular disease
Insights
Beta-blocking agents do not hinder exercise training benefits in cardiovascular disease patients. Exercise improves treadmill test duration and reduces resting heart rate, even with cardioselective and nonselective beta-blockers.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease patients often participate in supervised exercise programs.
- Beta-blocking agents are commonly prescribed for cardiovascular conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if cardioselective and nonselective beta-blocking agents affect exercise training adaptations in cardiovascular disease patients.
Main Methods:
- 50 cardiovascular disease patients in an exercise program underwent treadmill tests.
- Patients were on various beta-blockers (atenolol, propranolol, timolol, metoprolol, nadolol).
- Tests were conducted initially and at 3-month intervals.
Main Results:
- Treadmill test duration significantly increased (p < 0.05) from 7.5 to 9.9 minutes.
- Resting heart rate significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in 35 subjects (from 67.5 to 60.4 bpm).
- Improvements were observed despite the use of beta-blocking agents.
Conclusions:
- Exercise training elicits significant improvements in exercise capacity and resting heart rate in cardiovascular disease patients.
- These benefits are achievable even when patients are taking cardioselective and nonselective beta-blocking agents.
Abstract:
To determine whether cardioselective and nonselective beta-blocking agents impair exercise training effects in patients with cardiovascular disease, 50 subjects were evaluated. All were in a 3-times-weekly medically supervised outpatient exercise program for 3 months or longer. Treadmill exercise tests were done initially and at 3-month intervals. Eight patients were receiving atenolol, 23 propranolol, 3 timolol, 6 metoprolol, and 8 nadolol and 1 patient receiving timolol changed to atenolol and 1 receiving nadolol changed to propranolol. Treadmill test duration increased significantly (p less than 0.05), from 7.5 +/- 2.5 to 9.9 +/- 2.3 minutes, with exercise training. In 35 of the 50 subjects heart rate at rest decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) from 67.5 +/- 11.7 to 60.4 +/- 10.5 beats/min. The other 15 subjects were excluded from heart rate analysis because beta blockade was begun 1 to 2 weeks after the initial exercise test. It is concluded that exercise training effects (increase in exercise test duration and decrease in resting heart rate) can be achieved in patients with cardiovascular disease in the presence of both cardioselective and nonselective beta-blocking agents.