Patient education significantly improves quality of life, exercise capacity and BNP level in stable heart failure patients

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of complex ambulatory education on quality of life, exercise capacity and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level in chronic stable heart failure patients. Material and methods - Heart failure patients in NYHA class II/III (n = 31) on optimal medical treatment were recruited from the outpatient department. The following data were evaluated before and 2 months after the patient education: quality of life (evaluated by the Minnesota questionnaire), peak exercise oxygen consumption (VO2) and BNP level. Results - The mean general quality of life evaluation index (QoLES) decreased significantly in 2 months after the education (37.90 +/- 18.78 versus 49.39 +/- 17.86 prior to the education, P < 0.001), an improvement in quality of life. Peak exercise VO2 in 2 months after the tuition significantly increased (19.26 +/- 7.22 versus baseline 16.25 +/- 3.69 ml/kg/min; P = 0.013) as well as the anaerobic threshold (AT VO2 was 12.694 +/- 3.28 ml/kg/min versus baseline 11.197 +/- 2.47 ml/kg/min; P = 0.003). The indices reflecting external load also increased significantly: workload, duration of the exercise and METs. A significant proportion of the patients 2 months after the education moved to lower NYHA functional classes. Plasma BNP level decreased significantly in 2 months after the tuition: 224 +/- 340.36 versus baseline 348.41 +/- 471.99 ng/l; P = 0.023. Conclusions - Patient education with the emphasis on adherence, self-care management and physical training has a reliable positive impact on the quality of life, exercise capacity and plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide in the population of stable moderate HF patients.