A high-intensity exercise program improves exercise capacity, self-perceived health, anxiety and depression in heart transplant recipients: a randomized, controlled trial.
Christensen SB, Dall CH, et al.The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 31(1): 106-107, 2012.
Aims
To explore whether a high-intensity program would improve exercise capacity, self-perceived health, anxiety and depression in heart transplant recipients.
Interventions
8-week exercise program consisting of high-intensity aerobic interval training for 60 minutes 3 days/week versus standard treatment without the high-intensity exercise program.
Participants
27 clinically stable heart transplant recipients.
Outcomes
Symptoms of anxiety and depression assessed by the hospital anxiety and depression scale, as well as quality of life measured by SF-36.
Follow-up
8 weeks
CET Conclusions
This is a small sample but does suggest that a high intensity exercise programme in long term stable heart transplant recipients does improve anxiety, depression and self perceived health in comparison to those patients continuing on routine management. Larger scale studies would be justified to determine the long term effects of a course of high intensity exercise in stable heart transplant patients.
Data analysis
Per protocol analysis
Quality notes
This is a subgroup analysis of a previous publication of the same RCT: Hermann TS, Dall CH, Christensen SB, et al. Effect of high intensity exercise on peak oxygen uptake and endothelial function in long-term heart transplant recipients. Am J Transplant 2011; 11:536-41. The methodological quality assessment was based on the previous publication.
Trial registration
NCT01028599 (ClinicalTrials.gov)