Objective: With respect to liver function and heart failure, 46% of acute decompensated heart failure patients exhibit abnormal liver function. However, there have been no reports of the association between liver function and functional capacity in these patients. Our aim was to clarify the relationship between liver function and functional capacity using the peak oxygen uptake (VO 2 ). Methods: We retrospectively identified 36 heart failure patients who were referred to our rehabilitation laboratory. These patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX). Furthermore, we investigated the correlations between peak VO 2 , blood measurements [e.g., total bilirubin (T-bil) and brain natriuretic peptide], and echocardiographic parameters. Finally, multivariate regression analysis was performed to investigate the independent variables related to peak VO 2 . Results: The mean peak VO 2 was 10.7±2.9 ml/kg/min. Peak VO 2 during CPX correlated inversely with T-bil [r=-0.379, 95% confidence intervals (CI): −0.654 to −0.014, P=0.043], aspartate transaminase (r=-0.426, 95% CI: −0.685 to −0.07, P=0.021), and peak heart rate (r=0.391, 95% CI: 0.029 to 0.663, P=0.036). The significant independent factors associated with peak VO 2 were treatment with statin (β=-3.19, P=0.015) and T-bil levels (β=-4.27, P=0.002). Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that liver function may contribute to the functional capacity in heart failure patients.

Anaerobic endurance training (AET) can improve sympathomimetic hyperactivity, and anaerobic interval training (AIT) is recommended for patients who cannot exercise due to exertional breathlessness and leg fatigue. However, the difference in sympathetic nerve activation (SNA) and parasympathetic nerve activation (PNA) during AIT and AET is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the differences between endurance and interval trainings. We studied three patients (63-73 years) assigned to AIT which exercise/pause phase is 60/120 seconds (AIT120) and AET of 10 minutes duration. Systolic blood pressure, heart rate (HR), and rate pressure product (as an index of SNA) and oxygen uptake, tidal volume, respiratory rate, and minute ventilation were measured. As a result, these parameters in AET were increased compared with those of AIT120 among the subjects. While, high frequency component of frequency distribution in HR (HF) in AET was decrease compared with that in AIT120 among subject. We concluded that AIT inhibited SNA more effectively compared with AET and AIT may be safe for cardiac rehabilitation.

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Discharge outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest could be predicted with the functional status score for the ICU