New study shows regular exercise pre-hospitalization is linked to better outcomes in heart failure
Researchers from Japan have found that even small but consistent amount of exercise before hospitalization could be associated with better health outcomes after discharge, making exercise more accessible and practical for older patients.
In a recent study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology on February 19, 2025, researchers from Japan have explored the link between exercise habits before hospitalization and post-discharge outcomes in older patients with heart failure. The study was led by Dr. Taisuke Nakade, at the Department of Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine. Other members of the research team include Dr. Yuya Matsue, Dr. Daichi Maeda, Dr. Nobuyuki Kagiyama, and Dr. Tohru Minamino from the Department of Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine.
“We wanted to explore whether even a small but consistent amount of physical activity before hospitalization could be associated with better post-discharge health outcomes, making exercise more accessible and practical for a broader range of patients with heart failure,” states Dr. Nakade. To accomplish this, the team analyzed data from the FRAGILE-HF study, which was conducted at 15 hospitals across Japan, including 1,262 patients aged 65 years and older who were hospitalized for heart failure. In addition, they assessed the exercise habits of these patients before hospitalization.
Of the 1,262 patients included in this study, it was found that 675 (53.4%) patients reported regular exercise habits before hospitalization—this included moderate exercise lasting 30 minutes or vigorous activity lasting 20 minutes, performed at least once daily per week. Interestingly, the researchers found that those patients who reported regular exercise habits before hospitalization had a lower risk of death, compared to patients who did not exercise regularly. Additionally, it was found that patients who exercised regularly had greater grip strength and higher gait speeds (measured as the time taken to walk over a specified short distance). This indicated that regular exercise was also linked to better strength and physical function in older patients.
