Frailty Should Not Discourage Physical Rehabilitation in Heart Failure

An intensive physical rehabilitation intervention showed the greatest effect in the frailest individuals.

Physical frailty is common among individuals with heart failure (HF) and is a predictor of poor outcomes. Whether rehabilitation can improve physical function in the population with HF and documented frailty is an open question.

REHAB-HF is a randomized trial that demonstrated benefits of a tailored progressive physical rehabilitation program on physical function after hospitalization for acute decompensated HF (NCT02196038; NEJM JW Gen Med May 18 2021 and N Engl J Med 2021; 385:203). In this secondary analysis, the investigators compared the impact of the program among those with documented frailty (n=192; mean age, 74 years; 57% women; 57% with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]) and those with “prefrailty” (n=145; mean ag…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, MACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)