Heart failure remains a significant health issue, particularly among older populations, where it notably raises mortality rates and drastically reduces quality of life. The benefits of exercise therapy for heart failure patients are well-documented, yet prior studies have predominantly focused on the advantages of exercising following a heart failure diagnosis. This leaves a substantial knowledge gap concerning the impact of physical activity before a patient is admitted to the hospital with heart failure.
A groundbreaking study published on 19 February 2025 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology sheds light on this issue. Conducted by a team of Japanese researchers led by Dr Taisuke Nakade of the Department of Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine at Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, this study delves into the relationship between pre-hospitalisation exercise habits and the health outcomes of older patients post-discharge. Dr Nakade was joined by colleagues Dr Yuya Matsue, Dr Daichi Maeda, Dr Nobuyuki Kagiyama, and Dr Tohru Minamino in this research endeavour.
Dr Nakade articulated the team’s objective: “We wanted to investigate whether a modest, yet consistent, regimen of physical activity prior to hospitalisation could correlate with improved health outcomes after discharge, thereby making exercise a more viable option for a wider demographic of heart failure patients.” To achieve this, the researchers analysed data from the FRAGILE-HF study, which involved 1,262 patients aged 65 and older, all hospitalised for heart failure across 15 hospitals in Japan. They mainly assessed these patients’ exercise routines before their hospitalisation.
The study revealed that 675 of the 1,262 participants, or 53.4%, had regularly exercised before hospital admission. This included either moderate activity for 30 minutes or vigorous activity for 20 minutes at least once a week. The findings were significant: those who exercised regularly before hospitalisation exhibited a reduced mortality risk compared to their non-exercising counterparts. Furthermore, the exercising group demonstrated higher grip strength and faster gait speeds, suggesting that regular physical activity enhances general strength and improves physical functioning in older adults.
These observations underscore the critical role of regular physical activity for older individuals, suggesting that even minimal exercise (such as walking or moderate physical activity once or twice a week) can lead to better health outcomes in this group. Dr. Nakade highlighted the implications of these findings for clinical practice, stating, “While our study does not confirm a causal relationship, it supports broader and more practical exercise recommendations for the elderly. The concept of ‘muscle banking’ emerges from our findings, suggesting that building muscle strength before health deteriorates can offer significant preventative benefits.”
The study also opens exciting avenues for collaboration between medical researchers and the fitness and wearable technology sectors. Wearable devices and digital health platforms could significantly support heart failure patients by providing real-time activity tracking, tailored exercise suggestions, and early detection of physical decline.
In light of the escalating global prevalence of heart failure, the insights from this study are particularly relevant for healthcare policy, rehabilitation initiatives, and patient education. It also highlights the broader importance of physical activity in maintaining health and building resilience against physical decline. This study reinforces the message that regular physical activity is a valuable investment in long-term health, advocating for its inclusion in daily routines for sustained well-being.
More information: Taisuke Nakade et al, Association of pre-admission exercise habit with post-discharge outcomes for older patients with heart failure , European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf069
Journal information: European Journal of Preventive Cardiology Provided by Juntendo University Research Promotion Center
