PURPOSE: To examine the effects of a 12-week Tai Chi program on quality of life and exercise capacity in patients with heart failure. METHODS: Thirty patients with chronic stable heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction <= 40% (mean (+/- SD) age 64 +/- 13 years; mean baseline ejection fraction 23% +/- 7%; median New York Heart Association class 2 (range 1 to 4)) were randomly assigned to receive usual care (n = 15), which included pharmacologic therapy and dietary and exercise counseling, or 12 weeks of Tai Chi training (n = 15) in addition to usual care. Tai Chi training consisted of a 1-hour class held twice weekly. Primary outcomes included quality of life and exercise capacity. Secondary outcomes included serum B-type natriuretic peptide and plasma catecholamine levels. For 3 control patients with missing data items at 12 weeks, previous values were carried forward. RESULTS: At 12 weeks, patients in the Tai Chi group showed improved quality-of-life scores (mean between-group difference in change, -25 points, p = 0.001), increased distance walked in 6 minutes (135 meters, p = 0.001), and decreased serum B-type natriuretic peptide levels (-138 pg/mL, p = 0.03) compared with patients in the control group. A trend towards improvement was seen in peak oxygen uptake. No differences were detected in catecholamine levels. CONCLUSION: Tai Chi may be a beneficial adjunctive treatment that enhances quality of life and functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure who are already receiving standard medical therapy.
With permission from Excerpta Medica Inc.

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