Functional Capacity Evaluation and Rehabilitation Strategies in Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Comprehensive Review

TL;DR

This review discusses how to assess and improve physical function in patients with cardiac amyloidosis, a heart condition that causes severe disability.

Contribution

The paper emphasizes the role of rehabilitation and objective assessments in managing cardiac amyloidosis.

Findings

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and frailty evaluations are important for assessing prognosis in cardiac amyloidosis.

Structured aerobic and resistance training can improve exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients.

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation is a crucial therapeutic target as survival improves with new therapies.

Abstract

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an increasingly recognized cause of restrictive cardiomyopathy characterized by amyloid fibril deposition in the heart, leading to severe functional impairments and poor prognosis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology of CA, emphasizing the mechanisms underlying functional capacity limitations and highlighting the importance of precise physiological assessment tools. We focus on objective measures such as cardiopulmonary exercise testing, field-based functional tests, and frailty evaluations that are vital for prognosis and tailoring patient care. With recent advances in disease-modifying therapies extending survival, maintaining and improving functional status through multidisciplinary rehabilitation emerges as a crucial therapeutic target. Evidence suggests that structured aerobic and resistance training can enhance exercise tolerance, strength, and quality of life in CA patients, although further research is needed to optimize rehabilitation protocols. By integrating clinical, physiological, and rehabilitative insights, this review underscores the value of a patient-centered approach aimed at preserving functional capacity and improving outcomes in this complex and systemic disease.

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