| The purpose of this experimental study was to compare a 12-week combined home-based walking/education (intervention) program and an education only (control) program on functional capacity and QOL in women with NYHA Class II and III DHF. Measurement occurred at three time periods, baseline (T1), at the conclusion of the 12-week intervention/control period (T2), and after the three-month telephone follow-up period, (T3). Two hypotheses were tested: (a) intervention women will have an increase in functional capacity as measured by an increased distance walked on the six-minute walk test (6MWT) at T2 and improved scores on the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) at T2 and T3 compared to controls and; (b) intervention women will have an increase in QOL as measured by improvement in scores on the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (LIhFE) at T2 and T3 and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) compared to controls. The intervention group improved on the six-minute walk test T2–T1 (840 feet ± 366 to 1043 feet ± 317 compared to 824 feet ± 367 to 732 feet ± 408, p = 0.002). The intervention group also improved on the Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (41 ± 26 to 24 ± 18 compared to 27 ± 18 to 28 ± 22, p = 0.002; 24 ± 18 to 19 ± 18 compared to 28 ± 22 to 32 ± 27, p = 0.014) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (6 ± 4 to 4 ± 4 compared to 5 ± 3 to 7 ± 5, p = 0.012; 4 ± 4 to 4 ± 4 compared 7 ± 5 to 7 ± 5, p = 0.009) T2–T1 and T3–T1 respectively, versus the control group. Findings from this study support the use of low to moderate intensity home-based exercise, rather than education alone, as a safe and effective strategy for improving functional capacity and quality of life in older women with stable New York Heart Association class II and III DHF. |
