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CPAP Improves Exercise Tolerance in Heart Failure

July 10, 2006 - In CHFers, CPAP (nasal continuous
positive airway pressure) for 30 minutes a day improves
lung function and also exercise ability, according to a
new trial in Brazil.
	Dr. Elisardo Vasquez notes that CPAP is
known to improve oxygen saturation, reduce problems
breathing and reduce the load on the heart - both preload
and afterload (all good things). Until now, no one had
studied if CPAP also improved CHFers' ability to be
physically active.
	The trial included 24 class 2 or class 3 CHFers
to get either breathing exercises only (the control group)
or 30 minutes of nasal CPAP a day for 14 days.
	Compared to control patients, CPAP patients
had significant improvement in two lung tests - forced
vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second.
Control patients showed no improvements in these tests.
	CPAP patients also improved their 6-minute
walk test by 28%.

Source: Chest 2006;130:157-163.
Source: Reuters Health.