Author(s)

Valérie Ndobo^1,2*, Doris Ekoume Bwemba¹, Siddikatou Djibrilla^3,4, Guy Sadeu Wafeu^5,6, Samuel Mbouh⁷, Claude Elysée Bika Lele^8,9, Hermann Tsague^1,10, Sylvie Ndongo^1,11, Félicité Kamdem^12,13, Samuel Mandengue^8,9, Alain Patrick Menanga^1,10, Jérôme Boombhi^1,10, Liliane Mfeukeu-Kuate^1,2

¹Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
²Cardiology Unit, Central Hospital of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
³Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁴Cardiology Unit, Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
⁵Building Medical Research in Africa, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁶Epidemiology and Biostatistic Department, Higher Institute of Scientific and Medical Research, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁷National Institute of Youth and Sports, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁸Physiology and Medicine of Physical Activities and Sports Unit, Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
⁹Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
¹⁰Cardiology Unit, Yaoundé General Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
¹¹Internal Medicine Unit, University Teaching Hospital of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
¹²Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
¹³Department of Internal Medicine, Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.

Background: Heart failure (HF) poses a significant global health burden, necessitating effective management strategies. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a seven-week cardiac rehabilitation program on functional capacity and quality of life in patients with stable chronic HF. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to either a rehabilitation group (n = 10) or a control group (n = 10). The mean age of participants was 62.9 ± 9.45 years in the intervention group and 60.3 ± 8.23 years with extremes ranging from 45 years to 79 years. The male gender was the most represented in both groups, with a rate of 70% in the intervention group and 60% in the control group, i.e., a sex ratio of 1.87. The rehabilitation program consisted of structured exercise, education, and psychological support. Functional capacity was assessed using the six-minute walk test (6MWT), exercise testing, and estimated VO_2max. Quality of life, anxiety, and depression were measured using validated questionnaires. Hemodynamic parameters and physical activity levels were also evaluated. Results: Results demonstrated significant improvements in the rehabilitation group compared to the control group; specifically a significant increase in 6MWT distance (p < 0.001) exercise duration (p = 0.008) and functional capacity (p = 0.029). Furthermore, participants in the rehabilitation group exhibited significant reductions in anxiety and depression scores (p = 0.008 and p < 0.001, respectively), and reported a significant improvement in quality of life (p = 0.002) and PA level (p = 0.011). Systolic blood pressure also significantly decreased in the rehabilitation group. Physical activity levels increased significantly in the rehabilitation group. Conclusions: A seven-week cardiac rehabilitation program significantly improved functional capacity, quality of life, and psychological well-being in patients with stable chronic HF. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating cardiac rehabilitation into the comprehensive management of HF patients.

Cardiac Rehabilitation, Functional Capacity, Quality of Life, Heart Failure

Ndobo, V. , Bwemba, D. , Djibrilla, S. , Wafeu, G. , Mbouh, S. , Lele, C. , Tsague, H. , Ndongo, S. , Kamdem, F. , Mandengue, S. , Menanga, A. , Boombhi, J. and Mfeukeu-Kuate, L. (2025) Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Effects on Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Stable Chronic Heart Failure Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, 15, 519-536. doi: 10.4236/wjcd.2025.1511046.