BACKGROUND: Reduced aerobic capacity and deconditioning contributes to morbidity and mortality in elderly acute heart failure (AHF) patients. Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) has shown to be a suitable alternative to exercise in AHF. However, feasibility and efficacy are unknown in a real-world setting. METHODS: This is a prospective, open label blinded, randomized, controlled study, investigating feasibility and efficacy of high-intensity versus low-intensity EMS versus controls in elderly AHF patients. Patients and investigators were blinded to the intervention. EMS was offered to > 60 years old AHF patients, initiated during hospitalization and continued at home. Outcome measures included changes in 6-min walking test distance (6-MWTD), functional capacity and quality-of-life at 3 and 6 weeks. RESULTS: Among 97 consecutive AHF patients (78.1 +/- 9.4 years, 42.3% females), 60 (61.9%) were eligible for EMS. Of these, 27 provided written informed consent and were randomly assigned to high-intensity (n = 10), low-intensity EMS (n = 9) and controls (n = 8). 13/27 completed the intervention. Main reason for dropouts was intolerance of the overall intervention burden. MACE occurred in 5 and were not associated with the study. EMS groups showed significant improvement of 6-MWTD (controls versus low-intensity p = 0.018) and of independence in daily living (for both p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in 6-MWTD suggest efficacy of EMS. Whereas all tolerated EMS well, the burden of study intervention was too high and resulted in a consent rate of < 50% and high dropouts, which limit the interpretability of our data. Less demanding EMS protocols are required to evaluate the full potential of EMS in elderly AHF patients.

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