N/A
Completed N=68
The Impact of a Home-Based Walking Exercise Program on Heart Failure
Heart Failure · Home-based Walking Excercise · Depression · Frailty
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06791967 ↗
Enrolled (actual)
68
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
May 2026
Primary outcomePrimary: Depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9,PHQ-9) — 4.62; 5.21; 2.21; 4.73 points
Summary
Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Taiwan, with approximately 700,000 individuals affected by heart failure. Despite the proven benefits of rehabilitative exercise, participation in cardiac rehabilitation remains suboptimal. To address this, integrating physical activity into daily life, such as home-based walking exercises, offers a practical alternative to promote health and improve outcomes in heart failure patients. Walking exercises have been shown to significantly impact mortality rates and enhance the quality of life in this population.
This study aims to assess the effects of a 12-week home-based walking exercise program on depression, frailty, and quality of life in patients with heart failure. Using an experimental design, heart failure patients hospitalized in a medical center's internal medicine ward were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=34) and a control group (n=34). While both groups received standard health education, the experimental group also participated in a home-based walking intervention after discharge. Data were collected before the intervention and at the 1st and 3rd months post-intervention. The generalized estimation equation (GEE) was employed to analyze changes in depression, frailty, and quality of life, focusing on group differences and interactions between time and group.
The expected outcomes of the study include improved quality of life, reduced frailty, and alleviated depression in the experimental group, highlighting the value of home-based walking exercise. Additionally, the intervention model can complement existing post-discharge nursing practices by incorporating remote nursing guidance to enhance exercise adherence without increasing healthcare costs. This approach not only benefits patients by encouraging long-term physical activity but also reduces the burden on healthcare systems, making it a sustainable and effective strategy for managing heart failure.
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9,PHQ-9) |
4.62; 5.21; 2.21; 4.73; 1.33; 3.58 | — |
| PRIMARY Frailty (CSHA-CFS) |
1.97; 2.24; 1.70; 2.06; 1.52; 1.85 | — |
| PRIMARY Quality of Life (Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire,MLHFQ) |
17.56; 17.68; 8.48; 16.88; 5.33; 15.09 | — |
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Patients diagnosed with heart failure classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class II-III by a physician.
- Approval from the attending physician to participate in the home-based walking program after discharge.
- Aged between 18 and 80 years.
- Patients unable to attend outpatient cardiac rehabilitation.
- No regular exercise habits, such as performing less than 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per week.
- Able to walk independently without the aid of assistive devices.
- Patients with clear consciousness, no cognitive impairment, and no history of mental illness.
- Able to communicate in Mandarin or Taiwanese dialect.
- Willing to participate in the study, sign the informed consent form, and comply with the home-based walking program.
Exclusion Criteria
- Patients diagnosed with heart failure classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class IV by a physician.
- Patients diagnosed with depression by a psychiatrist.
- Patients with cognitive impairment or language communication disorders.
- Patients who are bedridden for an extended period.
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06791967). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.