High-Intensity Training Improves Global and Segmental Strains in Severe Congestive Heart Failure

• Published in: Journal of cardiac failure Vol. 23; no. 5; pp. 392 - 402
• Main Authors: Blumberg, Yair, M.Sc, Ertracht, Offir, Ph.D, Gershon, Itai, B.Sc, Bachner-Hinenzon, Noa, Ph.D, Reuveni, Tali, Atar, Shaul, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-05-2017
• Subjects: Animals; Cardiovascular; Heart failure (HF); Heart Failure - diagnostic imaging; Heart Failure - physiopathology; Heart Failure - therapy; high intensity training (HIT); Male; Physical Conditioning, Animal - methods; Physical Conditioning, Animal - physiology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Running - physiology; Severity of Illness Index; speckle tracking echocardiography (STE); Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE); Heart failure (HF); High intensity training (HIT); high intensity training (HIT); speckle tracking echocardiography (STE)
• ISSN: 1071-9164; 1532-8414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2016.12.010

Abstract Background High intensity training (HIT) is superior to moderate aerobic training (MAT) for improving quality of life in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) has recently been suggested for estimation of left ventricle global and regional function. Aims We evaluated the utility of STE for characterizing differences in cardiac function following MAT or HIT in a CHF rat model. Methods and results Following baseline physiological assessment, CHF was induced by coronary artery ligation in Sprague-Dawley rats. Repeated measurements confirmed the presence of CHF (EF 52±10%, global circumferential strain (GCS) 10.5±4 and Image 2max 71±11, P<0.001 vs. baseline for all). Subsequently, rats were divided into training protocols: sedentary (SED), MAT or HIT. After the training period, rats underwent the same measurements and were euthanized. Training intensity improved Image 3max (73±13 in MAT, P<0.01 vs. baseline, and 82±6 ml/min/kg in HIT, P<0.05 vs. baseline or SED and ejection fraction (EF) 50±21% in MAT, P<0.001 vs. baseline, and 66±7% in HIT P>0.05 vs. baseline. In addition, strains of specific segments adjacent to the infarct zone regained basal values (P>0.05 vs. baseline), whereas global cardiac functional parameters, as assessed by 2DE, did not improve. Conclusion High-intensity exercise training improved function in myocardial segments remote from the scar, which resulted in compensatory cardiac remodeling. This effect is prominent, yet it could only be detected by STE.