Impact of Physiotherapy-Based Exercise Training on Cardiac Function and Quality of Life in Heart Failure Patients

Abstract

Background: Exercise training based on physiotherapy has become a potential non-pharmacological treatment to enhance heart failure patients' quality of life and cardiac function.

Objective: To assess how exercise training determined by physical therapy affects heart failure patients' overall quality of life and heart function.

Methodology: A prospective, single-group pre–post interventional study was conducted at the Department of Cardiology and Physiotherapy Unit, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in collaboration with Riphah International University, GGC Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan, from January to December 2024. A total of 126 clinically stable adult heart failure patients aged 30–70 years were enrolled using consecutive sampling. Participants underwent a 12-week structured physiotherapy-based exercise program incorporating aerobic, resistance, and breathing exercises, with sessions lasting 30–45 minutes, three to five times per week. Echocardiography (LVEF) was used to monitor cardiac function; the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) was used to measure quality of life; and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was used to measure functional capacity. Paired t-tests were used to compare the results before and after the intervention.

Results: Of 126 participants, 72 (57.14%) were male and 54 (42.86%) female. LVEF increased significantly from 38.72 ± 6.54% to 44.85 ± 6.12% (p < 0.001). MLHFQ scores improved with physical domain decreasing from 28.45 ± 6.82 to 20.31 ± 5.97, emotional domain from 16.72 ± 4.65 to 11.89 ± 4.12, and total score from 45.17 ± 9.12 to 32.20 ± 8.35 (all p < 0.001). Functional capacity improved with 6MWT distance increasing from 310.45 ± 54.23 m to 365.78 ± 48.12 m (p < 0.001). Clinically meaningful improvements were observed in LVEF (≥5%) in 92 patients, 73.02%, MLHFQ (≥10-point reduction) in 85 patients, 67.46%, and 6MWT (≥50 m gain) in 78 patients, 61.90%.

Conclusion: Heart failure patients' cardiac function, quality of life, and functional ability are all markedly improved by physiotherapy-based exercise training.