Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention
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J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialNoninvasive ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure acutely improves 6-minute walk distance in chronic heart failure.
Noninvasive ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been used in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), although its effect on exercise tolerance in these patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of CPAP on exercise tolerance in outpatients with CHF. ⋯ Noninvasive ventilation with CPAP increased exercise tolerance in patients with stable CHF. Future clinical trials should investigate whether this effect is associated with improved clinical outcome.