Endurance Training Improves Oxygen Uptake and Endurance Capacity in Patients With Moderate to Severe Valvular Disease

Aim: Peak oxygen uptake (peakVO₂) is one of the strongest predictors of survival in patients with valvular heart disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether endurance training improves peakVO₂ and endurance capacity in patients with moderate-severe aortic and mitral valve disease. Methods: 30 patients with moderate-severe valvular heart disease were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of endurance training (TG) (n = 16) or standard care (SC) (n = 14). PeakVO₂ and maximum working capacity (Watt_max) were assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing, as well as submaximal endurance test at 80% of peakVO₂ at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results: There was a significant improvement in peakVO₂ from 27.2 ± 5.9 ml/kg to 30.4 ± 6.3 ml/kg (P < 0.001) in TG compared to the SC (peakVO₂ from 24.6 ± 4.4 to 24.7 ± 3.8) and in the Watt_max from 151.8 ± 41.0 Watt to 171.2 ± 49.7 Watt in the TG compared to the SC (152.9 ± 35.6 Watt to 149.2 ± 28.4 Watt). The endurance capacity increased significantly from 17.0 ± 9.4 min to 32.8 ± 16.8 min (p = 0.003) in the TG compared to the SC (11.7 ± 6.2 min to 11.2 ± 7.6 min). The heart rate during the endurance test decreased in the TG from 154 ± 14 b/min to 142 ± 20 b/min for the same workload. No changes could be seen in the SC. Conclusion: Endurance training in patients with moderate to severe valvular heart disease increased significantly the peakVO₂ as well as the endurance capacity.