Background: Heart failure (HF) patients experience reduced functional fitness level (determining the performance of routine, daily activities) and diminished exercise capacity (linked to more effortful activities). Aim: The aim of the study is to assess this relationship using functional fitness tests compared to peak VO2 and VE/VCO2 slope in the context of exercise capacity and ventilatory response to exercise. Methods: A total of 382 men with stable HFrEF (age: 61 ± 10, NYHA class I/II/III/IV: 16/50/32/2%, LVEF: 30.5 ± 8.3%) underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) and a Senior Fitness Test (SFT). Afterwards, the patients were divided according to the 2capacity with peak VO2 ≥ 18 mL/kg/min, those with higher or lower ventilatory responses (VE/VCO2 slope ≥ 35 vs. <35) to the exercise were compared. Results: Patients who covered shorter distances in the 6 min walking test showed worse results in the functional tests (‘stand up and go’, ‘chair stand’ and ‘arm curl’) and CPX (lower peak VO2, shorter exercise time and higher VE/VCO2 slope). Subjects classified into Class D demonstrated the worst results in all elements of SFT; those in Class A demonstrated the best results. Significant differences that were analogous occurred also between classes B and C. Among the participants who reached peak VO2 ≥ 18 mL/kg/min (n = 170), those with VE/VCO2 slope ≥ 35 were characterized by worse physical fitness as compared to those with VE/VCO2 < 35. Conclusion: Reduced exercise tolerance led to worsening physical function in patients with HFrEF. Moreover, limitations in physical fitness seem to be distinctive for those patients showing excessive ventilatory response to exercise slope VE/VCO2 (≥35). The Senior Fitness Test may be considered as a useful tool for assessing comprehensive functional and clinical status and risk stratification in patients with HFrEF, especially those with extremely low exercise capacity.

Background. The complex clinical status of modern day patients hospitalized due to acute heart failure (AHF) results from their advanced age, comorbidities, frailty, heart failure symptoms (including massive swelling of the lower limb), and dramatic reduction of exercise tolerance. Hence, there is a need to implement physiotherapeutic procedures as early as possible, aiming to both accelerate the restoration of clinical stabilization and prevent post-hospital disability. Objectives. We investigated whether assisted lower limb exercises have an impact on perfusion and oxygenation in skeletal muscle and if they are feasible in patients with AHF. Materials and methods. We examined 34 men (age: 66 +/- 11 years; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): 34 +/- 11%; clinical presentation: 31 wet-warm and 3 wet-cold). The intervention (carried out on the 2nd day of hospitalization) included: 1) a 3-minute rest period; 2) an exercise phase (45 repetitions of assisted flexion and extension of the lower limb; and 3) a 10-minute relaxation period. We analyzed blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), tissue oxygenation (reflected by oxygen saturation measured with a pulse oximeter), and changes in peripheral tissue perfusion (reflected by the tissue oxygenation index (TOI) measured with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)). Results. The hemodynamic parameters (both Delta HR and Delta systolic BP) and oxygen saturation did not change (all p > 0.05), whereas the RR declined (p < 0.001). The exercises improved venous outflow (reflected by decreased oxygenated, deoxygenated and total hemoglobin, all p < 0.05) and increased peripheral tissue perfusion, as reflected by the TOI (p < 0.05). The patients reported relief and lack of dyspnea during and after the assisted exercises. Conclusions. The physiotherapeutic intervention improved both venous outflow and muscle oxygenation in men with AHF. The presented protocol was safe, feasible and well-tolerated, and resulted in relief for the patients. We believe that such procedures might be recommended for the initial period of rehabilitation in this challenging subgroup of patients.