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Table 1 Study and patient characteristics

From: Effects and Optimal Dose of Exercise on Endothelial Function in Patients with Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Study

Group; EM (AEM)

Study characteristics

Patient characteristics

Country; study design; journal

Sample size (analysed); male percentage; age; baseline diameter

LVEF; VO2 peak; NYHA

Anagnostakou et al. [38]

IG; CE (HIIT)

Greece; randomised; J Card Fail

14 (14); 79%; 54.0 ± 10.0 y; 4.50 ± 0.50 mm (brachial)

39.0 ± 11.0%; 15.7 ± 6.0 ml·kg−1·min−1; 5 (I), 7 (II), and 2 (III)

IG$; AE (HIIT)

14 (14); 86%; 52.0 ± 11.0 y; 4.40 ± 0.50 mm (brachial)

36.0 ± 13.0%; 15.7 ± 4.0 ml·kg−1·min−1; 3 (I), 10 (II), and 1 (III)

Angadi et al. [39]

IG; AE (HIIT)

USA; randomised; J Appl Physiol

9 (9); 89%; 69.0 ± 6.1 y; NR (brachial)

65.0 ± 5.0%*; 19.2 ± 5.2 ml·kg−1·min−1; II-III (IC)

IG$; AE (MIT)

6 (6); 67%; 71.5 ± 11.7 y; NR (brachial)

66.0 ± 4.0%*; 16.9 ± 3.0 ml·kg−1·min−1; II-III (IC)

Belardinelli et al. [40]

IG; AE (MIT)

Italy; randomised; Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil

30 (30); 100%; 55.1 ± 14.0 y; NR (brachial)

30.2 ± 7.0%; 14.8 ± 2.5 ml·kg−1·min−1; 17 (II) and 13 (III)

CG; NA

22 (22); 100%; 53.1 ± 15.0 y; NR (brachial)

33.6 ± 8.0%; 15.8 ± 2.1 ml·kg−1·min−1; 12 (II) and 10 (III)

Belardinelli et al. [41]

IG; AE (MIT)

Italy; randomised; Int J Cardiol

30 (30); 100%; 55.9 ± 15.0 y; NR (brachial)

29.3 ± 6.0%; 16.8 ± 3.7 ml·kg−1·min−1; 18 (II) and 12 (III)

CG; NA

29 (29); 100%; 58.0 ± 12.0 y; NR (brachial)

28.1 ± 5.0%; 15.9 ± 1.5 ml·kg−1·min−1; 15 (II) and 14 (III)

Belardinelli et al. [42]

IG; AE (MIT)

Italy; randomised; Circ Heart Fail

44 (44); 86%; 59.0 ± 10.0 y; NR (brachial)

35.0 ± 8.0%; 16.5 ± 4.5 ml·kg−1·min−1; 31 (II) and 13 (III)

CG; NA

42 (42); 83%; 58.0 ± 10.0 y; NR (brachial)

37.0 ± 8.0%; 16.1 ± 4.5 ml·kg−1·min−1; 29 (II) and 13 (III)

Benda et al. [43]

IG; AE (HIIT)

Netherlands; non-randomised; PloS One

10 (10); 90%; 63.0 ± 8.0 y; 4.40 ± 0.90 mm (brachial) 6.70 ± 1.10 mm (femoral)

37.0 ± 6.0%; 19.1 ± 4.1 ml·kg−1·min−1; 8 (II) and 2 (III)

IG$; AE (MIT)

10 (10); 100%; 64.0 ± 8.0 y; 4.50 ± 0.50 mm (brachial) 7.10 ± 1.20 mm (femoral)

38.0 ± 6.0%; 21.0 ± 3.4 ml·kg−1·min−1; 8 (II) and 2 (III)

CG; NA

9 (9); 56%; 67.0 ± 7.0 y; 4.10 ± 0.80 mm (brachial) 6.20 ± 1.00 mm (femoral)

40.0 ± 11.0%; 17.4 ± 5.8 ml·kg−1·min−1; 8 (II) and 1 (III)

Eleuteri et al. [44]

IG; AE (MIT)

Italy; randomised; Biomarkers

11 (11); 100%; 66.0 ± 6.6 y; 4.40 ± 0.30 mm (brachial)

28.0 ± 7.0%; 14.8 ± 2.3 ml·kg−1·min−1; 11 (II)

CG; NA

10 (10); 100%; 63.0 ± 6.3 y; 4.40 ± 0.30 mm (brachial)

30.0 ± 5.7%; 16.7 ± 1.3 ml·kg−1·min−1; 10 (II)

Erbs et al. [45]

IG; AE (MIT)

Germany; randomised; Circ Heart Fail

18 (17); 100%; 60.0 ± 11.0 y; NR (radial)

24.1 ± 5.1%; 15.3 ± 3.3 ml·kg−1·min−1; 18 (III)

CG; NA

19 (17); 100%; 62.0 ± 10.0 y; NR (radial)

25.0 ± 4.3%; 15.4 ± 3.8 ml·kg−1·min−1; 19 (III)

Giannattasio et al. [46]

IG; AE (MIT)

Italy; randomised; Hypertension

11 (11); NR (MS); NR; 2.90 ± 0.33 mm (radial)

32.9 ± 11.3%; NR; NR (I), NR (II), and NR (III)

CG; NA

11 (11); NR (MS); NR; 2.50 ± 0.33 mm (radial)

32.2 ± 2.3%; NR; NR (I), NR (II), and NR (III)

Guazzi et al. [47]

IG; AE (MIT)

Italy; randomised; J Appl Physiol

16 (16); 100%; 52.0 ± 5.0 y; NR (brachial)

34.3 ± 3.3%; 17.1 ± 2.8 ml·kg−1·min−1; 11 (II) and 5 (III)

CG; NA

15 (15); 100%; 54.0 ± 4.0 y; NR (brachial)

35.5 ± 3.7%; 16.5 ± 2.7 ml·kg−1·min−1; 10 (II) and 5 (III)

Isaksen et al. (48)

IG; AE (HIIT)

Norway; non-randomised; Eur J Prev Cardiol

24 (24); 88%; 65.0 ± 9.0 y; 3.63 ± 0.82 mm (brachial)

37.6 ± 10.9%; 17.4 ± 4.6 ml·kg−1·min−1; 4 (I), 18 (II), and 2 (III)

CG; NA

11 (11); 100%; 69.0 ± 9.0 y; 3.94 ± 0.61 mm (brachial)

30.0 ± 8.1%; 16.9 ± 2.8 ml·kg−1·min−1; 11 (II)

Kitzman et al. [49]

IG; AE (MIT)

USA; randomised; J Am Coll Cardiol

32 (23); 28%; 70.0 ± 7.0 y; 4.17 ± 0.91 mm (brachial)

58.0 ± 6.0%*; 14.2 ± 2.8 ml·kg−1·min−1; 15 (II) and 17 (III)

CG; NA

31 (22); 20%; 70.0 ± 7.0 y; 4.13 ± 0.87 mm (brachial)

56.0 ± 5.0%*; 14.0 ± 3.2 ml·kg−1·min−1; 17 (II) and 14 (III)

Kobayashi et al. [50]

IG; AE (MIT)

Japan; randomised; Circ J

14 (14); 86%; 55.0 ± 7.5 y; 4.53 ± 0.64 mm (brachial) 2.76 ± 0.60 mm (tibial)

29.0 ± 7.5%; 18.0 ± 4.9 ml·kg−1·min−1; 10 (II) and 4 (III)

CG; NA

14 (14); 57%; 62.0 ± 7.5 y; 4.16 ± 0.82 mm (brachial) 2.66 ± 0.52 mm (tibial)

33.0 ± 7.5%; 13.7 ± 3.4 ml·kg−1·min−1; 8 (II) and 6 (III)

Linke et al. [51]

IG; AE (MIT)

Germany; randomised; J Am Coll Cardiol

11 (11); 100%; 58.0 ± 6.6 y; 3.42 ± 0.12 mm (radial)

26.0 ± 9.9%; 16.0 ± 4.0 ml·kg−1·min−1; 8 (II) and 3 (III)

CG; NA

11 (11); 100%; 59.0 ± 10.0 y; 2.99 ± 0.13 mm (radial)

24.0 ± 6.6%; 16.9 ± 4.3 ml·kg−1·min−1; 8 (II) and 3 (III)

Munch et al. [52]

IG; RE (NA)

Denmark; randomised; J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev

12 (12); 83%; 59.0 ± 10.4 y; 5.99 ± 0.90 mm (femoral)

 ≤ 40% (IC); 23.0 ± 3.5 ml·kg−1·min−1; 2 (I) and 10 (II)

IG$;AE (MIT)

14 (13); 86%; 63.0 ± 11.2 y; 6.17 ± 1.01 mm (femoral)

 ≤ 40% (IC); 22.0 ± 3.7 ml·kg−1·min−1; 4 (I) and 10 (II)

Sales et al. [53]

IG; AE (HIIT)

Brazil; randomised; Circ Heart Fail

11 (9); 64%; 55.0 ± 7.6 y; 4.20 ± 0.50 mm (brachial)

27.8 ± 9.5%; 17.9 ± 3.2 ml·kg−1·min−1; 6 (II) and 5 (III)

IG$; AE (MIT)

11 (10); 64%; 59.5 ± 7.0 y; 4.00 ± 0.80 mm (brachial)

31.3 ± 6.1%; 16.9 ± 1.9 ml·kg−1·min−1; 9 (II) and 2 (III)

CG; NA

8 (8); 75%; 56.1 ± 7.0 y; 4.20 ± 0.70 mm (brachial)

25.8 ± 8.1%; 15.7 ± 3.5 ml·kg−1·min−1; 4 (II) and 4 (III)

Sandri et al. [54]

 ≤ 55 y: IG; AE (MIT)

Germany; randomised; Eur J Prev Cardiol

15 (15); 80%; 50.0 ± 5.0 y; NR (radial)

27.0 ± 6.0%; 13.3 ± 1.6 ml·kg−1·min−1; 8 (II) and 7 (III)

 ≤ 55 y: CG; NA

15 (15); 87%; 49.0 ± 5.0 y; NR (radial)

28.0 ± 5.0%; 13.6 ± 1.3 ml·kg−1·min−1; 9 (II) and 6 (III)

 ≥ 65 y: IG; AE (MIT)

15 (15); 80%; 72.0 ± 4.0 y; NR (radial)

29.0 ± 6.0%; 12.9 ± 1.4 ml·kg−1·min−1; 7 (II) and 8 (III)

 ≥ 65 y: CG; NA

15 (15); 80%; 72.0 ± 3.0 y; NR (radial)

28.0 ± 6.0%; 13.1 ± 1.5 ml·kg−1·min−1; 8 (II) and 7 (III)

Turri-Silva et al. [55]

IG; RE (NA)

Norway; randomised; PloS One

6 (6); 67%; 55.0 ± 10.9 y; 4.38 ± 0.58 mm (brachial)

42.2 ± 13.5%*; 16.9 ± 2.5 ml·kg−1·min−1; 2 (I), 3 (II), and 1 (III)

IG$; AE (HIIT)

8 (5); 63%; 60.9 ± 9.7 y; 4.54 ± 1.09 mm (brachial)

50.4 ± 17.0%*; 17.5 ± 4.2 ml·kg−1·min−1; 3 (I), 3 (II), and 2 (III)

CG; NA

8 (4); 88%; 56.0 ± 9.7 y; 4.36 ± 1.17 mm (brachial)

46.8 ± 14.4%*; 16.9 ± 2.5 ml·kg−1·min−1; 5 (I), 2 (II), and 1 (III)

Van Craenenbroeck et al. [56]

IG; AE (MIT)

Belgium; non-randomised; Basic Res Cardiol

21 (21); 86%; 61.3 ± 10.1 y; 4.81 ± 0.14 mm (brachial)

27.0 ± 8.7%; 18.3 ± 6.4 ml·kg−1·min−1; NR (2.3 ± 0.5)

CG; NA

17 (17); 71%; 63.4 ± 12.4 y; 4.50 ± 0.50 mm (brachial)

31.3 ± 7.0%; 21.3 ± 8.7 ml·kg−1·min−1; NR (2.0 ± 0.4)

Wisløff et al. [57]

IG; AE (HIIT)

Norway; randomised; Circulation

9 (9); 78%; 76.5 ± 9.0 y; NR (brachial)

28.0 ± 7.3%; 13.0 ± 1.6 ml·kg−1·min−1; NR

IG$; AE (MIT)

8 (8); 78%; 74.4 ± 12.0 y; NR (brachial)

32.8 ± 4.8%; 13.0 ± 1.1 ml·kg−1·min−1; NR

CG; NA

9 (9); 67%; 75.5 ± 13.0 y; NR (brachial)

26.2 ± 8.0%; 13.2 ± 1.9 ml·kg−1·min−1; NR

Zaky et al. [58]

IG; AE (HIIT)

Egypt; randomised; Biosci Res

20 (20); 100%; 54.0 ± 2.7 y; 4.13 ± 0.26 mm (brachial)

37.0 ± 1.9%; NR; II-III (IC)

IG$;AE (MIT)

20 (20); 100%; 52.8 ± 11.6 y; 4.13 ± 0.27 mm (brachial)

37.5 ± 3.1%; NR; II-III (IC)

  1. AE, aerobic exercise; AEM, aerobic exercise method; CE, combined aerobic and resistance exercise; CG, control group; EM, exercise modality; HIIT, high-intensity interval training; IC, inclusion criterion; IG, intervention group; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; MIT, moderate-intensity training; MS, mixed sample; NA, not applicable; NYHA, New York Heart Association functional class; NR, not reported; RE, resistance exercise; VO2 peak, peak oxygen uptake; and y, years
  2. Values are reported as mean ± standard deviation
  3. $The intervention group was also considered the comparator group
  4. *Patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (> 50%) were included