Combined aerobic and strength training for fitness outcomes in heart failure: meta-analysis and meta-regression

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the effects of combined training (CT) versus aerobic training (AT) or versus control on VO₂ peak and quadriceps muscle strength in patients with heart failure (HF).

Materials and methods

Major electronic databases were searched, from inception to November 2020, for randomized clinical trials comparing the effects of CT against AT or control on VO₂ peak and/or quadriceps muscle strength in patients with HF. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted, calculating the standardized mean difference (SMD).

Results

Twenty-eight articles were included. An increase on VO₂ peak (SMD = 0.77, 95%CI 0.39–1.14, I²=80.1%) and quadriceps muscle strength (SMD = 0.67, 95%CI 0.18–1.16, I²=0%) was found in CT compared to control. CT increased quadriceps muscle strength, versus AT (SMD = 0.44, 95%CI 0.15–0.74, I²=0%). There were no differences between CT and AT on VO₂ peak (SMD=–0.01, 95%CI –0.36 to 0.34, I²=65%). Time of session and training duration moderate the effects of CT over control on VO₂ peak.

Conclusions

CT promotes increases on quadriceps muscle strength and aerobic capacity over control and provides additional gains on quadriceps muscle strength, having the same effects on VO₂ peak compared to AT. A longer time of session is associated with greater benefits to aerobic capacity.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Combining aerobic and strength training increases the functional capacity and quadriceps muscle strength in heart failure patients.

• Using longer sessions of training has a greater impact on aerobic capacity.

Keywords:

• Heart failure
• combined training
• systematic review
• strength training
• aerobic training

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).