Does A Home-Based Walking Program Improved Functional Status in Chronic Heart Failure?
T Corvera-Tindel, Greater Los Angeles VAMC / UCLA School of Nursing; LV Doering, School of Nursing; K Machuca, Greater Los Angeles VAMC Objectives: Improvement in functional status is an important element in the lives of chronic heart failure (HF) patients. In a randomized trial, we are evaluating the effects of a 12-week home-based walking program on functional status in HF patients. Methods: Functional status was measured by maximal exercise test (peak oxygen consumption [VO2] via cardiopulmonary exercise test [CPX], submaximal exercise test (6-minute walk test), and functional status questionnaires (Heart Failure Functional Status Inventory [HFFSI], Cardiac-Quality of Life Index [C-QLI], and the Dyspnea-Fatigue Index [DFI]). Forty-five HF patients from a regional Veterans’ Medical Center (aged 64 +/- 9 years, ejection fraction 28 +/- 8%, 100% male, NYHA II- 85.3%, NYHA III- 14.7%) were randomized to care as usual (n = 23) or home walking program (n = 22). The home-based walking prog
