Effectiveness and Approach of Rehabilitation in Patients With Acute Heart Failure: A Review

Abstract

Acute heart failure is associated with high mortality and frequent rehospitalization, resulting in enormous healthcare costs and declining physical function, activities of daily living, and quality of life. Cardiac rehabilitation has been recommended as one of the non-pharmacologic treatments for patients with heart failure. However, much of the evidence for cardiac rehabilitation interventions reported to date has been limited to chronic heart failure. In recent years, the effectiveness of rehabilitation intervention in patients with acute heart failure has been reported, led by the Rehabilitation Therapy in Older Acute Heart Failure Patients (REHAB-HF) trial. This review overviews the recent evidence of rehabilitation in patients with acute heart failure.

Keywords: Acute heart failure; Cardiac rehabilitation; Exercise therapy; Physical function; Rehabilitation.

Figure 1. Short Physical Performance Battery.

Figure was created based on https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/labs/leps/short-physical-performance-battery-sppb.

Figure 2. Association between quadriceps isometric strength and levels of exercise capacity and habitual activities.

Figure was created based on a report by Kamiya et al. Ainsworth et al. presents a complete list showing the relationship between the different QIS/METs categories. BW = body weight; MET = metabolic equivalent; QIS = quadriceps isometric strength.

Figure 3. Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition.

Figure was created based on a report by Cederholm et al. ER = energy requirements; GI = gastrointestinal.