Influence of Short Term Exercise on the Quality of Life of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: Case Series from Saudi Arabia
Ayman F. Soliman *
King Abdulaziz Hospital, MNGHA, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, COAMS-A, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Yasser Alkhalifa
King Abdulaziz Hospital, MNGHA, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Othman Al Mulhem
King Abdulaziz Hospital, MNGHA, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Muneera Al Taweel
King Abdulaziz Hospital, MNGHA, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Zienab Al Bahrani
King Abdulaziz Hospital, MNGHA, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulmalik Alabdulqader
King Abdulaziz Hospital, MNGHA, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Tarek Nasef
King Abdulaziz Hospital, MNGHA, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Abdelkareem Al Garni
King Abdulaziz Hospital, MNGHA, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, COAMS-A, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a comprehensive disease management program for heart failure patients. Most of the heart failure (HF) guidelines are classifying the cardiac rehabilitation for heart failure patients as class 1A which mean highly recommended. However, Arab countries and Middle East are lacking specific CR programs and guidelines. In this study, five cases of chronic heart failure patients were exposed to short term regular exercise for maximum 8 weeks. With a mean of 5.6 exercise visits there are 19. 2% improvement in functional capacity, 35% improvement of exercise distance, 32.5% improvement in quality of life, 25% improvement in quality of sleep and decrease the emergency room visits by 37.5%.The significant improvement was in quality of life, exercise capacity and a decrease in ER visit for all patients.
Keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation, quality of life, ECG, exercise, chronic heart failure