OBJECTIVES: To quantify the change in effect sizes, for selected clinical outcome measures, in people with heart failure, from resistance exercise, either in isolation, or in combination with aerobic training. BACKGROUND: Most exercise training data in heart failure, relates to aerobic exercise, we sought to provide current evidence for the benefits of resistance training in this population. METHODS: We conducted a Medline search (1985 to May 1, 2016), for exercise based rehabilitation trials in heart failure, using search terms 'resistance training, combined training, left ventricular dysfunction, peakVO2, cardio-myopathy and systolic heart dysfunction'. RESULTS: The 27 included studies provided a total of 2,321 participants, 1,172 in an intervention and 1,149 in either sedentary controls or aerobic exercise only groups, producing over 31,263 patient-hours of training. Mortality, hospitalization, resting blood pressure and Left ventricular fraction were all unchanged with resistance or combined aerobic and resistance training. PeakVO2 was improved in combined exercise versus control MD of 1.43 ml/kg/min (95% CI 0.63 to 2.23, p = 0.0004; and in resistance versus control MD 3.99 ml/kg/min (95% CI 1.47 to 6.51, p = 0.002). Quality of Life (MLwHFQ) was improved in combined versus control MD -8.31 (95% CI -14.3 to -2.33, p = 0.006). Six-minute walk distance was improved combined exercise versus control, MD 13.49 m (95% CI 1.13 to 25.84, p = 0.03); and resistance versus control MD 41.77 m (95% CI 21.90 to 61.64, p < 0.0001): SMD 1.25 (95%CI 0.53 to 1.98, p = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: Resistance only or combined training improves peakVO2, quality of life and walking performance in heart failure patients.

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