Chronic Heart Failure: Does Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Promote Benefits to These Patients?

Authors

  • Jefferson Petto Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública – Salvador (BA), Brazil|Clínica Actus-Cordios, Reabilitação Cardiovascular, Respiratória e Metabólica – Salvador (BA), Brazil|Centro de Treinamento Acadêmico – São Paulo (SP), Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3556-6226
  • Edna Conceição de Oliveira Faculdade Adventista da Bahia – Cachoeira (BA), Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2884-008X
  • Alice Miranda de Oliveira Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública – Salvador (BA), Brazil|Clínica Actus-Cordios, Reabilitação Cardiovascular, Respiratória e Metabólica – Salvador (BA), Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3154-0953
  • Larissa Ferreira dos Santos Centro de Treinamento Acadêmico – São Paulo (SP), Brazil. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5848-6748
  • Pedro Elias Santos Souza Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública – Salvador (BA), Brazil|Clínica Actus-Cordios, Reabilitação Cardiovascular, Respiratória e Metabólica – Salvador (BA), Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1191-6738
  • Bráulio José Baraúna de Pinna Júnior Clínica Actus-Cordios, Reabilitação Cardiovascular, Respiratória e Metabólica – Salvador (BA), Brazil. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6197-0156

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24207/jca.v39.3568

Keywords:

Exercise, Quality of Life, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cardiac Rehabilitation

Abstract

Introduction: Supervised cardiovascular rehabilitation (SCR) is an essential adjuvant therapy for patients with heart failure. However, the idea that its benefits are restricted to the early stages of heart failure persists in clinical practice. Objective: To describe how SCR positively impacted the functional capacity, functionality, clinical condition and quality of life of a patient with chronic heart failure (CHF) with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Case report: Female, sedentary, 67 years old, hypertensive for 30 years, with an ICD (for seven years), history of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, developed dilated ischemic heart failure of functional class III. She was referred by her arrhythmologist to the SRC service. She remained in treatment for seven months. The SRC program consisted of resistance exercises, cyclic exercises, and inspiratory muscle training, adjusted every two months. Results: After the cardiovascular rehabilitation period, we observed a 100% increase in ejection fraction (20% versus 40%), functional capacity (< 5 METs versus 6.8 METs), and quality of life (↑ 47%), as well as a decrease in blood pressure (180/90 versus 130/80 mmHg) and withdrawal of one drug (digoxin). Conclusion: An individualized SRC program can promote clinical and functional benefits and improve the quality of life of patients with chronic heart failure, indicating that not only patients with recent complications or in the early stages of heart failure can benefit from these benefits.

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References

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Published

2026-01-29

How to Cite

Petto , J., Oliveira , E. C. de, Oliveira, A. M. de, Santos , L. F. dos, Souza , P. E. S., & Pinna Júnior, B. J. B. de. (2026). Chronic Heart Failure: Does Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Promote Benefits to These Patients?. JOURNAL OF CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS, 39. https://doi.org/10.24207/jca.v39.3568

Issue

Vol. 39 (2026)

Section

Clinical Arrythmia

Categories