Purpose: Cardiovascular responses, exercise intolerance, and hemodynamic behavior could be different in cardiovascular diseases during exercise. Clinical and scientific knowledge about cardiovascular responses would improve the quality and safeness for cardiovascular rehabilitation prescription. The purpose of this study was to examine the cardiovascular response differences during low-intensity exercises between patients with severe chronic heart failure (CHF) and coronary artery diseases (CAD) in preoperative period.

Methods: Thirty-one patients, waiting for elective cardiac surgery, entered in exercise protocol using low-intensity exercises (2-3 METS) for 10 minutes, with arms, legs, and 35 m walking exercises.

The cardiovascular responses during exercises was monitored by heart rate monitor to analyze heart rate (HR) and sphygmomanometers for blood pressure (BP) and rate pressure product (RPP). We recorded the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) during exercise protocol. According to the protocol, we maintain a 5-minute washout period between exercises.

Results: Groups were similar with respect to age, sex, and ejection fraction.

The RPE was significantly higher in CHF patients during exercise (P < .05) and there was no difference between exercise in intergroup statistical analyses. We observed an RPE negative correlation with age (r = -0.43, P < .05) and the RPP was higher during arms and legs exercises in CHF patients.

Conclusion: The cardiovascular responses with same low-intensity exercise protocol was markedly exacerbated in CHF patients. These differences suggest a primarily exercise prescription attention with CHF patient.