Effects of an exercise intervention for older heart failure patients on caregiver burden and emotional distress.

Background: The impact of exercise programmes for heart failure on those close to the patient is largely unknown. We examined the effect of a hospital and home-based exercise intervention on burden, anxiety and depression of informal caregivers.

Design: The study was a randomized, controlled trial.

Effect of a seated exercise program to improve physical function and health status in frail patients > or = 70 years of age with heart failure.

Eighty-two patients aged > or = 70 years with heart failure were randomized to a gentle, seated exercise program or to usual care. Six-minute walk distance and quality of life did not change between groups, but daily activity as measured by accelerometry increased in the exercise group relative to the control group.