TITLE:
Impact of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation on the Functional Capacity of Patients with Heart Failure: A Cohort Study at Yaoundé General Hospital, Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Hermann Nestor Tsague Kengni, Djibrilla Siddikatou, Marie Solange Ndom Ebongue, Laurence Carole Ngo Yon, Nafissatou Panchut Nsangou, Eczechias Ndoyou Ndjamakou, Christelle Menoue Djimafo, Sylvanie Tchuinkam Tchoubat, Germaine Christelle Tsafack Soefack, Edgar Mandeng Ma Linwa, Elysée Claude Bika Léle, Alain Patrick Menanga, Félicité Kamdem
KEYWORDS:
Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Heart Failure, Functional Capacity, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.15 No.11,
November
25,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) enhances the functional capacity of patients with heart failure (HF), but its effectiveness remains understudied in low-resource settings such as Cameroon. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of CR on the functional capacity of HF patients at Yaoundé General Hospital (YGH). Methods: A mixed retrospective and prospective cohort study was conducted at the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Rehabilitation Unit (CMRU) of YGH from February 2024 to May 2025. It included adults (≥21 years) diagnosed with HF according to the 2021 ESC criteria, who completed at least 10 CR sessions. The primary outcome was 6-minute walk test (6 MWT) distance. Secondary outcomes included VO2max estimated from 6 MWT (VO2max_6 MWT = distance × 0.1 + 3.5; the most objective VO2max estimate), VO2max estimated from the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) questionnaire (VO2max_DASI = 0.43 × DASI + 9.6), Metabolic Equivalents (METs), and DASI score. These functional parameters were assessed before and after CR, and factors associated with changes (delta) in outcomes post CR were identified via linear regression. Results: Thirty-three patients (mean age 59 ± 12 years; 60.6% male) were included. CR significantly improved 6 MWT distance (456 to 571 m), VO2max_6 MWT (11.02 to 13.02 mL/kg/min), VO2max_DASI (15.7 to 22.3 mL/kg/min), METs (5.08 to 8.6), and DASI score (13.3 to 29.5) (all p 2max_DASI, while higher baseline heart rate and a greater number of sessions were linked to better 6 MWT performance. Conclusion: CR significantly improves functional capacity and haemodynamic parameters in HF patients in a low-resource setting. Integrating CR into universal health coverage and tailoring programmes for older patients could optimise outcomes.