Cardiac Rehabilitation in Chagas Heart Failure

Physical exercise intervention protocol was performed three times per week, 60 minutes per session, during 8 months. Exercise sessions consisted of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on a treadmill or on a cycle ergometer, 20 minutes of strength exercises for the major muscle groups (sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups), and 10 minutes of stretching exercises. Nutritional and pharmaceutical consisted on general guidance about adequate eating habits for patients with heart failure, mainly sodium and water intake, and medication usage, particularly drug dosage and compliance.