Efficacy and Safety of Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on the Improvement of Cardiopulmonary Function in Patients After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (ENERGY): A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: To investigate the effect of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on the improvement of cardiopulmonary function for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).Design: Randomized controlled study.Setting and participants: Between August 20, 2021, and February 28, 2022, a total of 66 patients after TAVR were screened for inclusion and randomly divided into the MICT and control groups at a ratio of 1:1. MICT was scheduled 3 times per week for 3 months in the intervention group. Patients in the control group received one-time advice on physical activity according to the current guideline.Methods: The primary endpoint was the 3-month change in peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The secondary endpoints included the 3-month change in 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, echocardiographic parameters, and laboratory parameters.Results: After 3 months, the change in peak VO2 was higher in the MICT group than that in the control group (1.63 mL/kg/min, 95% CI 0.58-2.67, P = .003). Change in 6MWT (21.55 m, 95% CI 0.38-42.71, P = .046) was higher in the MICT group compared with the control group. A significant change in favor of MICT was also observed for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.62 mmol/L, 95% CI -1.00 to -0.23, P = .002). However, there were no significant changes in other echocardiographic indices, laboratory parameters, and SF-12 between the 2 groups (all P > .05).Conclusions and implications: MICT had a positive effect on the cardiopulmonary function and physical capacity of patients after TAVR.(c) 2023 AMDA -The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effect of MICT on cardiopulmonary function improvement in patients after TAVR. The results showed that after 3 months, the MICT group had a higher change in peak VO2 and 6MWT compared to the control group. A significant change was also observed in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for the MICT group. However, there were no significant changes in other echocardiographic indices, laboratory parameters, and SF-12 between the two groups.