%0 Journal Article
%T Development of exercise
%A Birna Bjarnason-Wehrens
%A Detlev Willemsen
%A Hans-Georg Predel
%A J¨¹rgen Sindermann
%A Nils Reiss
%A Sebastian Schulte-Eistrup
%A Stephanie Mommertz
%A Thomas Schmidt
%J The International Journal of Artificial Organs
%@ 1724-6040
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0391398818815492
%X Following implantation of a left ventricular assist device, the build-up and long-term maintenance of adequate exercise capacity and functional performance become crucial. The aim of this study was to observe the development of exercise-related values at different times, as well as to detect possible influencing factors. We performed a prospective single-centre study: 10 patients (63£¿years, 100% male, body mass index£¿=£¿27.5, 100% HeartWare) underwent the following diagnostic tests during cardiac rehabilitation and during two subsequent ambulatory visits: 6-min walking test, handgrip strength test, cardiopulmonary exercise test and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire. Mean follow-up was 482£¿days after left ventricular assist device implantation. Significant improvements could be observed between the end of cardiac rehabilitation and ambulatory visit 1; 6-min walking distance increased from 367 to 449£¿m (p£¿<£¿0.01), peak VO2 from 10.0 to 11.9£¿mL/kg/min (p£¿<£¿0.05) and peak load from 62.4 to 83.0£¿W (p£¿<£¿0.01). However, there were no further improvements between ambulatory visit 1 and ambulatory visit 2. In the long term, a significant mean weight gain of more than 10£¿kg could be observed (p£¿<£¿0.01). A negative linear correlation between weight gain and absolute improvement in peak load (r£¿=£¿£¿0.77, p£¿<£¿0.01) and peak VO2 (r£¿=£¿£¿0.75, p£¿<£¿0.05) could be demonstrated. In conclusion, exercise-related values following left ventricular assist device implantation initially improve significantly. Later, however, no further improvements can be observed. In the long term, pronounced weight gain is conspicuous, concomitant with a significantly lower increase in exercise values of the patients. In the future, both dietary and structured physical activity follow-up interventions should be integrated in patient routines
%K Heart failure
%K left ventricular assist device
%K exercise capacity
%K functional performance
%K quality of life
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0391398818815492