Copyright © 2004 by the European Society of Cardiology.
Clinical research
Effect of exercise training in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator
a Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, K.U. Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium
b Hypertension and Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Molecular and Cardiovascular Research, Faculty of Medicine, K.U. Leuven, Belgium
c Cardiology Unit, Department of Molecular and Cardiovascular Research, Faculty of Medicine, K.U. Leuven, Belgium
d Faculty Chair Health and Lifestyle, Faculty of Health Care, University of Professional Education, Utrecht, The Netherlands
e Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Rehabilitation, Rijnlands Rehabilitation Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
Received October 6, 2003;
accepted April 5, 2004
* Corresponding author. Present address: Cardiovasculaire Revalidatie, U.Z. Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Lueven, Belgium. Tel.: +32-16-348-707; fax: +32-16-343-766
E-mail address: Luc.Vanhees{at}uz.kuleuven.ac.be
This paper was guest edited by Prof. H. Saner, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
Aims Little research exists on exercise performance and training in patients with an implemented cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and only in a limited number of patients. This study aims to investigate the effect of exercise training in ICD patients in comparison to the effects in other cardiac patients without an ICD.
Methods and results 92 ICD patients were compared with a control group of 473 patients. A maximal cycle-spiroergometric test was performed until exhaustion before and after an ambulatory exercise training programme. Exercise training was offered 3 times a week for 3 months. The cut-off heart rate was set at (ICD detection rate –20 beats/min). At baseline, the ICD patients had a lower peak oxygen uptake (VO2) compared to the control group. Training effects were smaller for peak VO2 (mL/min/kg) and oxygen pulse in the ICD group (18 vs. 27%, 
and 11 vs. 17%, 
, respectively). Several appropriate shocks were delivered during (
), and in between (
), testing or training and one inappropriate shock during training.
Conclusions ICD patients can safely participate in an exercise training programme with favorable results. A randomised control study with evaluation of the physical and the psychosocial effects is warranted.
Key Words: Exercise testing • Exercise training • Oxygen consumption • Arrhythmia
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