SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Exercise Tolerance”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,009 records · Page 56Linked to original sources

PubMed1988

Factors affecting the clinical response to treatment with digoxin and two calcium antagonists in patients with atrial fibrillation.

It has been suggested that patients in whom atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with poor exercise tolerance respond better to treatment with xamoterol plus digoxin than to digoxin alone; this may be attributable to better control of exercise induced tachycardia. We have examined data obtained during studies comparing digoxin and two calcium antagonists in the treatment of AF to see whether subgroups of patients with particularly poor exercise tolerance, rheumatic heart disease or rapid post-exercise heart rates might derive particular benefit from one modality of treatment as opposed to another. The results do not indicate that calcium antagonists improve exercise tolerance compared with digoxin in any of these subgroups despite achieving consistently better control of exercise induced tachycardia.

Atrial Fibrillation↗

PubMed1975

Combined propranolol and digoxin therapy in angina pectoris.

The effects of oral propranolol and digoxin and digoxin alone and in combination on angina frequency, heart size, systolic time intervals and treadmill exercise tolerance, were assessed in 20 patients with coronary heart disease. Oral propranolol alone reduced the average frequency of angina pectoris from 16 to 7 attacks per week (P less than 0.02). However, the mean duration of exercise was not significantly improved because 8 patients with abnormal left ventricular function exhibited a decrease in exercise tolerance. Combined propranolol and digoxin improved exercise tolerance in these patients, and, consequently, mean exercise duration in all patients increased significantly from the control value of 390 +/- 42 to 458 +/- 46 s (P less than 0.01). Propranolol alone also resulted in a significant increase in left heart size from 46.5 +/- 1.3 to 47.7 +/- 1.5 mm/m2 (P less than 0.001), which was reversed by the addition of digoxin. Therefore, oral propranolol combined with digoxin is advantageous in patients with angina pectoris who have abnormal ventricular function or large hearts.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2002

Lack of additional effect of adjunct of assisted ventilation to pulmonary rehabilitation in mild COPD patients.

Different modalities of assisted ventilation improve breathlessness and exercise tolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the addition of assisted ventilation during exercise training on the outcome of a structured pulmonary rehabilitation programme (PRP) in COPD patients. Thirty-three male patients with stable COPD (mean (SD) forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 44 (16) % pred), without chronic ventilatory failure, undergoing a 6-week multidisciplinary outpatient PRP including exercise training, were randomised to training during either mask proportional assist ventilation (PAV: 18 patients) or spontaneous breathing (SB: 15 patients). Assessment included exercise tolerance, dyspnoea, leg fatigue, and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Five out of 18 patients (28%) in the PAV group dropped out due to lack of compliance with the equipment. Both groups showed significant post-PRP improvements in exercise tolerance (peak work rate difference: 20 (95% Cl 2.4-37.6) and 14 (3.8% CI to 24.2) W in PAV and SB group, respectively), dyspnoea and leg fatigue, but not in HRQL, without any significant difference between groups. It is concluded that with the modality and in the patients assessed in this study assisted ventilation during training sessions included in a multidisciplinary PRP was not well tolerated by all patients and gave no additional physiological benefit in comparison with exercise training alone.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Skeletal muscle myofibrillar protein oxidation in heart failure and the protective effect of Carvedilol.

Heart failure is characterized by limited exercise tolerance and by a skeletal muscle myopathy with atrophy and shift toward fast fibres. An inflammatory status with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines and exaggerated free radicals production, can worsen muscle damage. In a well established model of heart failure, the monocrotaline treated rat, we show that CHF is accompanied by oxidation of the skeletal muscle actin, tropomyosin and myosin, which further depresses muscle function and exercise capacity. We have also tested the efficacy of Carvedilol, a non-selective beta(1)-beta(2)-blocker, which has been widely used in clinical trials to improve exercise tolerance and reduce mortality in moderate and severe CHF, in preventing contractile protein oxidation in CHF rats. As comparison we used Bisoprolol a beta(1) selective agent, without known anti-oxidative properties. Carvedilol at the dose of 2 mg/kg per day was able to prevent the myofibrillar protein oxidation, while Bisoprolol (0.1 mg/kg) did it only partially, as demonstrated by the oxyblot analysis. While Carvedilol improved force production on isolated muscles, Bisoprolol did not. After the COMET trial, the anti-oxidative capacity of Carvedilol has been invoked as one of the mechanism that makes this drug superior to other selective beta-blockers in the treatment of CHF. One of the reason of Carvedilol superiority could be the effect on skeletal muscle with reduction of contractile protein peroxidation, amelioration of muscle function and improvement of exercise tolerance. Inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and of pro-inflammatory cytokines may also lead to a decreased muscle wastage, another factor contributing to worsening of exercise tolerance.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMed1999

Long-term effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic airway obstruction.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme (PRP) in patients with chronic airway obstruction (CAO). In 61 CAO patients (35 asthmatics and 26 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) lung and respiratory muscle function, exercise tolerance (by symptom limited cycloergometer and walking tests), dyspnoea (Borg scale, visual analogue scale (VAS), baseline and transitional dyspnoea index (BDI and TDI, respectively)) and quality of life (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)) were assessed at baseline (to), at discharge (t1) and 12 months postdischarge (t2). Preprogramme and post-programme hospital admissions and exacerbations of disease were also recorded. In comparison with baseline, no significant change was observed in lung function tests in either diagnostic group, either at t1 or at t2. In both groups improvements in respiratory muscle strength, exercise tolerance, Borg scale and VAS reported at t1 were partially reduced at t2. Analysis of variance showed that these changes over time were similar in the two groups. Mean values of SGRQ and BDI/TDI improved at t1, and, unlike exercise tolerance, did not worsen at t2. However, a clinically relevant difference in SGRQ between t2 and to was reported only in 56% of asthmatics and 52% of COPD patients. Compared with the preceding 2 yrs, in the year following PRP, hospital admissions and disease exacerbations decreased significantly in both diagnostic groups. Regardless of diagnosis, patients with chronic airway obstruction who underwent an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme maintained an improved quality of life 12 months postdischarge despite a partial loss of the improvement in exercise tolerance.

Asthma↗

PubMed1993

[Acute effects of propranolol and its association with nifedipine in aged patients with effort stable angina. Randomized double-blind crossover study, under placebo control].

Calcium-antagonist and B-blockers are effective in improving exercise tolerance in patients with effort angina. We studied the short effects of oral administration of nifedipine (10 mg) and propranolol (80 mg) alone and in combination in 15 elderly patients with chronic exertional angina pectoris in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study. The 15 patients (13 men and 2 women, mean age 69 years) performed symptoms-limits bicycle exercise stress test 3 h after placebo or active substance administration. Maximal work load, exercise duration, real time to 1 mm ST segment depression were significantly increased and ST depression at peak exercise was significantly decreased by drug alone and in combination. Propranolol and nifedipine improved exercise duration in combination; however, a different response to the three pharmacologic interventions was found in patients treated with single drug. The improvement in exercises tolerance was associated with rate-pressure product values at peak exercise tolerance was associated with rate-pressure product values at peak exercise, unchanged after placebo and significantly reduced after both propranolol alone and in combination. After placebo all patients had exercise-induced angina, in 50% and in 40% after propranolol and the combination of the two drugs, respectively. In aging patients nifedipine and propranolol are effective in the treatment of effort angina and they are superior in patients who show poor response to mono therapy, although this combination will be conditioned by different patient sensibility to the three pharmacologic interventions and then therapeutic choice would be evaluated and verified individually.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1994

Duration and extent of antianginal effects of a sustained-release formulation of nifedipine in angina.

Twenty-four patients with chronic stable exertional angina pectoris were randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial to assess the efficacy and durability of a newly developed, sustained-release formulation of nifedipine (nifedipine CC) in a single 40-mg oral dose. Symptom-limited graded treadmill exercise tests were performed just before, and at 4, 7, and 24 h after a single administration of the drug or the placebo was given. Exercise tolerance at 4, 7, and 24 h after the drug were compared with the corresponding placebo values. Data could be analysed for 19 patients. Maximal exercise time, time to the onset of angina, and time to 1 mm ST segment placebo. The average maximal exercise time was significantly increased by 72, 76, and 37 s at 4, 7, and 24 h. Rate-pressure product at rest and at peak exercise showed significant changes only at 24 h compared with placebo (both P < 0.05). The maximal increase in exercise tolerance was most marked at 7 h nifedipine CC, at which time plasma drug concentration was 99.4 +/- 14.0 ng.ml-1. Thus, in patients with chronic stable exertional angina pectoris, nifedipine CC showed a prolonged improvement in exercise tolerance up to 24 h after a single oral administration.

Angina Pectoris↗

PubMed1984

Acute intravenous and sustained oral treatment with the beta1 agonist prenalterol in patients with chronic severe cardiac failure.

Prenalterol, a beta1 agonist, was given in a single blind acute intravenous study to seven patients with cardiac failure (New York Heart Association class II and III). It was then given in a double blind crossover study of sustained oral prenalterol to six of them. As a result of dose titration studies the oral dose of prenalterol given was 100 mg twice a day in all patients. Erect bicycle sprint tests were performed to exercise tolerance before and after treatment had been started. Cardiac function was assessed at rest and during graded supine bicycle exercise by determining haemodynamic indices using a Swan-Ganz catheter and radionuclide left ventricular ejection fractions. In the intravenous study cardiac function was assessed at rest and during exercise after a control infusion of dextrose and after an infusion of 5 mg prenalterol. In the oral crossover study a placebo or prenalterol were given for two periods of two weeks; at the end of each period exercise tolerance was measured and cardiac function assessed at rest and during exercise. Throughout the study period there was no change in symptoms, medication, or exercise tolerance. Intravenous prenalterol significantly improved cardiac function; left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac index increased and left ventricular filling pressure fell both at rest and during exercise. Sustained oral treatment with prenalterol, however, did not improve resting left ventricular filling pressure or left ventricular ejection fraction at rest or during exercise but did increase heart rate at rest, and mean blood pressure and peripheral vascular resistance at rest and during exercise; in fact, during exercise left ventricular filling pressure was significantly increased while cardiac index and stroke volume index were decreased by prenalterol. Sustained oral treatment with prenalterol did not have the beneficial effects on cardiac function produced by intravenous treatment and in fact had deleterious effect on the measured indices of cardiac function during exercise.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Predictors of health-related quality of life with cardiac rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQL) instruments provide valid and responsive outcome measures to assess the impact of disease and the response to interventions. However, they have not been applied widely to studies of rehabilitation after myocardial infarction. PURPOSE: To examine the extent to which baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics predict baseline and change in generic and specific HRQL. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial of an 8-week cardiac rehabilitation intervention or usual care, with follow-up for 12 months, in 201 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Multiple regression analysis was used to identify predictors of HRQL. RESULTS: Specific HRQL scores and exercise tolerance improved significantly more in rehabilitation patients than usual care patients by the end of the 8-week intervention. All HRQL measures and exercise tolerance in both groups improved significantly during the 12 month follow-up period but the differences between the groups were trivial. A poor baseline HRQL was the predominant predictor of improved generic and specific HRQL. Furthermore, greater improvement in HRQL consistently was associated with lower levels of cardiovascular risks such as absence of a previous MI or coronary artery bypass surgery, absence of angina, less smoking, and higher exercise tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Improved generic and specific HRQL was associated with poorer baseline HRQL and less baseline cardiovascular risk. This reinforces the importance of addressing health behavior changes as soon as possible after MI and the usefulness of assessing both generic and specific HRQL in evaluating treatment effectiveness.

Electrocardiography, Ambulatory↗

PubMed1986

Influence of training following bilateral stenosis of the femoral artery in rats.

The influence of training on muscle performance in situ, exercise tolerance in vivo, and muscle blood flow, was assessed in rats in which femoral arteries were previously surgically constricted to severely limit active hyperemia but not to restrict normal resting blood flow (BF). Muscle BF to the different fiber type sections of the gastrocnemius plantaris soleus muscle group was determined during in situ stimulation (15 and 30 tetani/min) using 15-microns microspheres after 0, 1, 2, 3, and 5 wk (n = 5-6/wk) of daily treadmill training. Surgical stenosis was performed 48 h prior to the initiation of training. The ability of the hindlimb muscle of sedentary stenosed animals to maintain tension in situ improved from an extensive deficit to normal at 3 wk during relatively mild contractions (15 tetani/min) but not at 5 wk during 30 tetani/min. Although BF improved to normal at 15 tetani/min, a large BF deficit remained at 30 tetani/min. Exercise tolerance during running increased approximately twofold in duration. In contrast, trained stenosed animals demonstrated normal muscle tension in situ by 2 wk during 15 tetani/min and at 5 wk during 30 tetani/min. Exercise tolerance during running increased in duration (approximately fivefold) and intensity (approximately twofold). Although BF to the entire contracting muscle mass was not different between trained and sedentary stenosed animals, its distribution within the gastrocnemius was more homogenous (P less than 0.001). This was probably due to adaptations within the fast-twitch white muscle section and could have contributed to the dramatic improvement in muscle function and exercise tolerance exhibited by the trained stenosed animals.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

[Physical exertion tolerance after water immersion].

Before and after 24-hour water immersion test subjects performed a submaximal workload on a bicycle ergometer. Changes in their hematocrit, circulating plasma volume and fluid balance were compared with those during immersion. As a result, the test subjects were subdivided into two groups. For one group the workload was very hard; adaptation to immersion was accompanied by significant renal losses of fluid from the intra- and extravascular space. The bicycle ergometry test after immersion demonstrated a decrease of exercise tolerance combined with circulatory disorders. The other group showed a higher exercise tolerance; after immersion exercise tolerance remained high at the expense of the reserves that maintained optimal blood supply to the working muscles.

Adult↗

PubMed1982

The effect of age on heart rate in subjects free of heart disease. Studies by ambulatory electrocardiography and maximal exercise stress test.

To delineate the effects of true aging, undetected heart disease and deconditioning on heart rate, we performed 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography and maximal exercise stress test on 101 subjects with normal hearts. The maximal heart rate recorded was 180 beats/min; the minimum was 35 beats/min. A distinct diurnal pattern was observed. With increasing age, a decrease of the maximal heart rate achieved during exercise stress test (r = 0.27, p = 0.05) or spontaneously recorded during the day (r = 0.41, p = 0.0005) or night (r = 0.24, p = 0.03) was observed. The resting and average heart rates were not affected by age. Older subjects had lower exercise tolerance (r = 0.41, p = 0.0001). Low exercise tolerance was associated with higher increments of heart rate for submaximal exercise levels (r = 0.0001) and lower maximal heart rates (r = 0.43, p - 0.008). These changes of heart rate with age are not due to undetected cardiac disease, because the subjects included in the study were meticulously screened by noninvasive and invasive means.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

[The effect of systemic thrombolytic therapy on left ventricular contractile function and on the tolerance for physical loading in patients with an acute myocardial infarct].

36 patients with macrofocal myocardial infarction (MI) underwent systemic thrombolytic therapy with avelysin (500,000-750,000 U) within the disease first 6 hours. By the results of the treatment 2 groups were identified: patients with thrombolysis and myocardial reperfusion (n = 20), patients free of reperfusion manifestations (n = 16). The patients were examined in hospital and outside 10 months after MI development: myocardial contractility and hemodynamics were assessed at echocardiography and radiocardiography, exercise tolerance, coronary and myocardial cardiac reserves using bicycle ergometry. Better exercise tolerance and myocardial contractility were shown both in hospital and in follow-up by patients with myocardial reperfusion. According to the follow-up findings, myocardial contractility was such the same as that on postinfarction week 4, exercise tolerance was much higher than at the first examination. Thus, myocardial reperfusion affects positively the parameters studied in MI patients.

Exercise Tolerance↗

PubMed1995

Czech and Slovak spirapril intervention study (CASSIS). A randomized, placebo and active-controlled, double-blind multicentre trial in patients with congestive heart failure.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled multicentre study with spirapril, a new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), has been conducted in patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) of NYHA classes II-IV. After a placebo run-in period of 1-4 weeks, patients were randomly assigned to one of five treatment groups: placebo (n = 48), spirapril 1.5 mg (n = 48), spirapril 3 mg (n = 53), spirapril 6 mg (n = 51) or enalapril 5/10 mg (n = 48). The primary objective was to assess changes in exercise tolerance, and the secondary objective was an assessment of cardiovascular signs and symptoms, quality of life, ejection fraction and chest X-ray findings. Exercise tolerance increased in all groups; however, no statistically significant differences were found between any of the groups. There was a statistically significant reduction of mortality in the pooled spirapril groups compared with placebo, and a trend for reduction of serious cardiovascular adverse events as well as duration of hospitalization. These effects and improvements in lung congestion appeared to be dose dependent. In patients with moderate to severe heart failure, the combination with first-generation calcium channel blockers had an unfavourable effect on exercise capacity and clinical parameters. Spirapril might be an effective alternative to enalapril in the treatment of patients with CHF. The role of the exercise tolerance test in establishing efficacy of ACEIs in CHF and the widespread use of nifedipine in CHF is questioned.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

PubMed2003

Interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate high-resolution CT (HRCT) parameters of inflammation and fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc), for correlation with lung function, skin scores and exercise tolerance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 45 SSc patients (40 women, 48.5+/-13.4 years), underwent thoracic HRCT, lung function assessment, and modified Rodnan skin scores. Exercise tolerance was also graded. HRCT were scored for extent of 4 HRCT patterns of interstitial lung disease (ILD): ground glass opacification (GGO), reticular, mixed and honeycomb pattern in each lobe. Total HRCT score, inflammation index (GGO and mixed score) and fibrosis index (reticular and honeycomb scores) were correlated with lung function and clinical parameters. RESULTS: ILD was present in 39/45 (86.7%) patients. Abnormal (<80% predicted) forced vital capacity (FVC), total lung capacity (TLC) and carbon monoxide diffusion factor (DLco) were detected in 30%, 22% and 46% of patients. Total HRCT score correlated with FVC (r=-0.43, p=0.008), FEV1 (forced expiratory volume) (r=-0.37, p=0.03), TLC (r=-0.47, p=0.003), and DLCO (r=-0.43, p=0.008); inflammatory index with DLCO (r=-0.43, p=0.008) and exercise tolerance (r=-0.39, p < 0.05); and fibrosis index with FVC (r=-0.31, p=0.05) and TLC (r=-0.38, p=0.02). Higher total HRCT score, and inflammation and fibrosis indices were found in patients with abnormal lung function. CONCLUSION: Qualitative HRCT is able to evaluate inflammation and fibrosis, showing important relationships with diffusion capacity and lung volume, respectively.

Exercise Tolerance↗

PubMed1992

[Effects of aerobic training in patients with moderate chronic heart failure].

UNLABELLED: To evaluate the effects of a program of moderate intensity in patients (pts) with clinically stable chronic heart failure (CHF), we studied 20 pts (18M, 2F, mean age 61 years) with dilated cardiomyopathy, Weber Class B, ejection fraction (EF) < 40% and aerobic capacity of 16 +/- 2 ml/kg/min on cardiopulmonary exercise testing. We randomly assigned pts to 2 groups, a training group (T, 10 pts) and a control group (C, 10 pts), similar for anatomical and clinical characteristics, group T underwent a thrice weekly, 8 week-long ambulatory program of aerobic activity, beginning at 40% of maximal oxygen uptake. At the end, in Group T we observed a significant increase of exercise tolerance (+45%; p < 0.005), peak oxygen uptake (VO2 max) (+20%; p < 0.001), anaerobic ventilatory threshold (AT) (+37%; p < 0.005), lactate threshold (+36%; p < 0.005), peak heart rate (< 10%; p < 0.01) and of peak systolic pressure (+12%; p < 0.007); and a significant reduction in resting heart rate (-17%; p < 0.005), resting diastolic pressure (-11%; p < 0.005), plasma lactate (LA) at rest (-26%; p < 0.01), at peak (-21%; p < 0.005) and at recovery (-22%; p < 0.005), plasma norepinephrine (NE) both at rest (-38%; p < 0.005) and at peak (-13%; p < 0.005) and of plasma epinephrine (E) (-38%; p < 0.005; -32%, p < 0.001, respectively). We observed no change in EF at the end in both groups nor any untoward cardiac effects during training. We didn't note any correlation between AT and venous oxygen saturation (r = 0.15; p = 0.65) changes at the end. The increase in peak VO2 after training was not correlated to any AT increase (r = 0.12; p = 0.72). We observed, however, a significant correlation between lactate threshold and AT changes after training (r = 0.81; p = 0.005) and between LA and resting, submaximal and peak NE (r = 0.89; p = 0.005) and E (r = 0.78; p = 0.007) changes at the end of training. CONCLUSIONS: a) in pts with clinically stable CHF a program of aerobic activity well tolerated in terms of frequency, intensity and duration may determine a significant increase in exercise tolerance, aerobic capacity, AT and LA threshold, and a significant decrease in plasma LA, NE and E at rest, submaximal and peak levels; b) in our opinion, such modifications are partly determined by a delay in lactate accumulation and partly by sympathetic tone lowering, and permit us to underline the concept that physical inactivity may provoke important peripheral changes that, in turn, may reduce exercise tolerance and aerobic capacity, by creating a vicious circle difficult to break by medical therapy alone.

Anaerobic Threshold↗

PubMed1998

[Comparative efficacy, safety, cardio-hemodynamic effects of isosorbide dinitrate (ID) aerosol and sublingual tablets of nitroglycerin].

AIM: To study efficacy, safety, cardiohemodynamic effects of ID aerosol--isoket--for relief of anginal attacks and their prevention in long-term treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 patients with ischemic heart disease suffering from stable angina class II-III. Isoket was tried for efficacy, tolerance, hemodynamic parameters, morphofunctional status of the heart, exercise tolerance. RESULTS: Isoket aerosol in a dose 1.25 mg as a single oral spray arrested anginal attacks in all the patients. In long-term regimens good antianginal effect was achieved in 60% of cases. The ID aerosol produces a fast antianginal effect, improves morphofunctional cardiac parameters and exercise tolerance. CONCLUSION: Isoket spray is effective and safe antianginal drug.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed2003

Exercise training improves biventricular oxidative metabolism and left ventricular efficiency in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exercise training on myocardial oxidative metabolism and efficiency in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and mild heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND: Exercise training is known to improve exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with chronic HF. However, little is known about how exercise training may influence myocardial energetics. METHODS: Twenty clinically stable patients with DCM (New York Heart Association classes I through III) were prospectively separated into a training group (five-month training program; n = 9) and a non-trained control group (n = 11). Oxidative metabolism in both the right and left ventricles (RV and LV) was measured using [(11)C]acetate and positron emission tomography. Myocardial work power was measured using echocardiography. Myocardial efficiency for forward work was calculated as myocardial work power per mass/LV oxidative metabolism. RESULTS: Significant improvements were noted in exercise capacity (VO(2)) and ejection fraction in the training group, whereas no changes were observed in the non-trained group. Exercise training reduced both RV and LV oxidative metabolism and elicited a significant increase in LV forward work efficiency, although no significant changes were observed in the non-trained group. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise training improves exercise tolerance and LV function. This is accompanied by a decrease in biventricular oxidative metabolism and enhanced forward work efficiency. Therefore, exercise training elicits an energetically favorable improvement in myocardial function and exercise tolerance in patients with DCM.

Adult↗