Effect of home-based walking on performance and quality of life in patients with heart failure

Introduction: Chronic heart failure defined as the inability of the heart to meet the demands of the tissues, which results in symptoms of fatigue or dyspnoea on energy progressing to dyspnoea at rest. The inability to perform the exercise without discomfort and poor quality of life may be one of the first symptoms experienced by patients with heart failure and is often the principal reason for seeking medical care. Objectives: The aim of the study was to find the effect of a home walking programme on the performance and quality of life in the patients with heart failure. Methods and results: Sixty patients with New York Heart Association class II and III heart failure were divided into two matched and equal groups. The quality of life scores and 6-minute walking scores were measured for each patient at entry and after 8weeks. Both groups were followed for 8weeks. The results showed between mean walking distance on the 6minutes at entry and after 8weeks in the training group (p