Impact of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Acute Heart Failure Patients With Cognitive Impairment

A heart failure disease management program was delivered to all patients before discharge, including an HF specialist nurse education program, dietitian consultation, physiatrist consultation, and psychologist consultation and assessment. Participants were advised to receive phase II CR after the CPET within one month. Moderate continuous aerobic exercise training was prescribed individually according to the CPET result.4 The training intensity was within 10 beats of the anaerobic threshold or 40-60% of peak VO2. The training intensity was gradually increased fortnightly as tolerated (Borg's scale of 12-14). Phase II CR consisted of 12 weeks of 36 sessions in the entire course. Patients who received at least one exercise session were considered as receiving CR. Other patients were considered non-receiving CR.