Regular Exercise Before Hospitalization Linked to Improved Heart Failure Outcomes, Study Finds - Video

Heart failure is a major health concern, especially for ageing populations-it significantly increases mortality rates, and severely impacts quality of life for those affected. Exercise therapy has been shown to be particularly effective for patients with heart failure. Previous research, however, has mainly examined the benefits of exercise after a diagnosis of heart failure. There is a considerable gap when it comes to our understanding of the role that exercise plays before a patient with heart failure is hospitalized.

In a recent study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology researchers from Japan have explored the link between exercise habits before hospitalization and post-discharge outcomes in older patients with heart failure.

The team analyzed data from the FRAGILE-HF study, which was conducted at 15 hospitals across Japan, including 1,262 patients aged 65 years and older who were hospitalized for heart failure. In addition, they assessed the exercise habits of these patients before hospitalization.

Of the 1,262 patients included in this study, it was found that 675 (53.4%) patients reported regular exercise habits before hospitalization—this included moderate exercise lasting 30 minutes or vigorous activity lasting 20 minutes, performed at least once daily per week. Interestingly, the researchers found that those patients who reported regular exercise habits before hospitalization had a lower risk of death, compared to patients who did not exercise regularly. Additionally, it was found that patients who exercised regularly had greater grip strength and higher gait speeds (measured as the time taken to walk over a specified short distance). This indicated that regular exercise was also linked to better strength and physical function in older patients.

The findings of this study emphasize the importance of promoting regular exercise for older patients. They suggest that even a minimal level of physical activity (such as walking or moderate exercise once or twice a week) is linked to better outcomes in this population.

Ref: Nakade T, Maeda D et al. Association of pre-admission exercise habit with post-discharge outcomes for older patients with heart failure, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2025;, zwaf069, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf069