Prehabilitation and heart failure: perspective in primary outcomes, a randomized controlled trial

Prehabilitation, intended as a multidisciplinary approach where physical training is combined with educational and counselling training, in cardiology could optimizing care, and has been shown to be able to reduce morbidity and mortality in several diseases. The present study aims to assess the effectiveness of a prehabilitation program in elderly patients (over 65) with chronic heart failure and to evaluate functional and quality indices of life.

This is randomized, single blind controlled trial. Fourteen older adult patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned into the study or the control group. Patients in the study group underwent physical training organized into 10 twice-weekly meetings, nutritional and lifestyle counseling.

In the Study Group, the quality of life improved significantly (EQoL-5D), and between the two groups there is a statistically significant difference in the motor dimension of SF-36.

Because of our preliminary results, prehabilitation program should be included among the management strategies of in elderly patients with chronic heart failure to better manage their disease and to improve their Quality of Life.