Exercise intensity and cardiac metabolic adaptations in elderly heart failure rehabilitation: A review

TL;DR

This review explores how exercise intensity and reduced sedentary time can improve heart function and metabolism in elderly heart failure patients.

Contribution

The paper systematically reviews recent evidence on how structured exercise and reduced sitting impact cardiac metabolism and function in heart failure rehabilitation.

Findings

Structured exercise combined with reduced sedentary time improves heart health in heart failure patients.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and resistance exercises may enhance cardiac function and reduce symptoms.

Prolonged sitting increases cardiovascular risks even in regular exercisers.

Abstract

Heart function depends on efficient cardiac metabolism and energy production. Exercise is vital for supporting these processes, especially in heart failure (HF) rehabilitation, where weakened metabolism and energy deficits are common. Structured exercise improves metabolic efficiency while reducing sedentary behavior, such as prolonged sitting, further supports heart health. Even in regular exercisers, prolonged sitting increases cardiovascular risks.

This review analyzed studies from 2017 to November 2024 on how exercise intensity affects cardiac metabolism, energy production, and mitochondrial function in HF patients. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using terms like "exercise intensity" and "cardiac metabolism." Studies focused on metabolic changes and mitochondrial bioenergetics were included; those lacking relevant data were excluded.

Structured exercise combined with reduced sedentary time significantly improves heart health in HF patients. Exercise gradually strengthens heart muscle, enhances energy utilization, and improves the heart's ability to handle daily stress. Reducing sedentary behavior complements these effects by lowering cardiovascular risks.

Improving heart health in HF patients requires both regular exercise and minimized sedentary time. Physical activities can enhance cardiac metabolism, energy efficiency, and overall heart function, providing an effective pathway for better outcomes.

•Exercise-Based Rehab is a Class I recommendation for heart failure(HF), improving exercise capacity & quality of life.•High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) improve exercise capacity and reduces symptom burden in HF patients.•Exercises like resistance, inspiratory HIIT, and remote ischemic conditioning may improve function in HF patients.•Regular exercise is crucial, but prolonged sitting cardiovascular risk factor.

Exercise-Based Rehab is a Class I recommendation for heart failure(HF), improving exercise capacity & quality of life.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) improve exercise capacity and reduces symptom burden in HF patients.

Exercises like resistance, inspiratory HIIT, and remote ischemic conditioning may improve function in HF patients.

Regular exercise is crucial, but prolonged sitting cardiovascular risk factor.

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