EFFECT OF AEROBIC EXERCISE TRANING ON QUALITY OF SLEEP IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE

ABSTRACT
Sleep disturbances, a common compliance of the patients with chronic heart failure (HF) that can reduce quality of life. Because simple and low-cost interventions, such as aerobic exercise, help to improve sleep. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of aerobic exercises on the quality of sleep in patients with chronic heart failure. A total of thirty male patients with class II and III chronic heart failure associated with obstructive sleep apnea, their LVEF <40% within <6 months participated in this study. They were selected from the outpatient clinic of Qalyub Specialized Hospital, Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt, aged from 50 to 60 years old. They were randomly assigned into twoequal groups (n= 15). Group A: received aerobic exercises (EA) for 3 sessions/week in the first two months then 4 sessions/week in the third month on non-consecutive days plus routine physiotherapy and medical treatment program. Group B: received routine physiotherapy and medical treatment programs only. The study outcome variables namely, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), sleep quality, and quality of life were measured before and after treatment program duration. Within group analysis, both groups (A) and (B) showed significant increase in LVEF, however significant reduction in STOP-Bang, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLHFQ) scores. Between groups analysis, post treatment results revealed significant difference in all study variables in favor of study group (A). It could concluded that, aerobic exercise training might be a very effective rehabilitation approach to improve quality of sleep and life in patients with chronic heart failure associated with obstructive sleep apnea.