Home-based telemonitored Nordic walking training is well accepted, safe, effective and has high adherence among heart failure patients, including those with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices: a randomised controlled study

The benefits of rehabilitation in heart failure (HF) patients are well established. Little is known about Nordic walking (NW) training in HF patients especially in those with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).

The purpose of this study was to assess safety, effectiveness, adherence to and acceptance of home-based telemonitored NW in HF patients, including those with CIEDs (i.e. cardiac resynchronisation therapy, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator).

The study design was a single-centre, prospective, parallel-group, randomised (2:1), controlled trial among 111 HF patients, New York Heart Association (NYHA) II–III; left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 40%. The intervention was a home-based telemonitored eight-week NW (training group (TG) n = 77) five times weekly vs usual care alone (control group (CG) n = 34). Outcome measures included a primary end point of functional capacity assessed by peak oxygen consumption (VO₂peak). Secondary end points included: workload duration (t) in cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), six-minute walking test (6-MWT) distance and quality of life (QoL), Medical Outcome Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36); safety; adherence to and acceptance of NW. Measurements were made before and after intervention.

NW resulted in significant improvement in: VO₂peak (16.1 ± 4.0 vs 18.4 ± 4.1(ml/kg/min), p = 0.0001), t (471 ± 141 vs 577 ± 158 (s), p = 0.0001), 6-MWT(428 ± 93 vs 480 ± 87 (m), p = 0.0001) and QoL (79.0 ± 31.3 vs 70.8 ± 30.3 (score), p = 0.0001). We did not observe favourable results in the CG. The differences between the TG and CG were significant in: ΔVO₂peak (Δ2.0 ± 2.4 vs Δ−0.2 ± 2.1, p = 0.0004); Δt (Δ108 ± 108 vs Δ0.94 ± 109, p = 0.0031); Δ6-MWT (Δ53.8 ± 63.9 vs Δ22.0 ± 68.7, p = 0.0483). In neither group were there deaths nor necessity for hospitalisation. We did not observe any intervention from CIEDs during NW. All patients in the TG completed rehabilitation and accepted it well.

In HF patients, including those with CIEDs, home-based telemonitored NW is safe and effective. NW was well accepted by patients and adherence was high and promising.