Exercise in patients with a systemic right ventricle.

Netherlands (Amsterdam, Nijmegen, Groningen)

Italy (Bologna)

We hypothesize that exercise training improves maximal exercise capacity in adult patients with a systemic RV. Moreover, we hypothesize that exercise training decreases serum NT-proBNP levels and increases quality of life in adult patients with a systemic RV.

Baseline and after 10 weeks of follow-up.

Eligible patients are randomly assigned to:

1. Exercise training program;

2. No exercise training program.



The training program is commenced directly after the cardiopulmonary exercise test, with the first exercise scheduled two days after the cardiopulmonary exercise test. To enhance willingness to participate the training schedule is home-based. Patients are requested to perform an interval exercise training at home, climbing stairs, three times a week for 10 consecutive weeks. The training schedule is set-up as follows:

1. 5 minutes of warming-up to reach 60-70% of maximal heart rate;

2. 32 minutes of interval exercise training (stair climbing / aerobic steps). The interval training consists of five 4-minute intervals at 90-95% of maximal heart rate, as previously determined by the cardiovascular exercise test. These intervals are separated by 3-minute pauses, stepping in place at 50-70% of maximal heart rate;

3. 5 minutes of cool-down at 50-70% of maximal heart rate.


Total exercise time is 42 minutes per exercise.


Patients can follow their heart rate during the exercise training with the Cresta Metal Line PM-233 heart rate wrist watch, which will be provided to them directly after randomization.


To improve compliance, consenting patients can choose their exercise training – stair climbing or steps aerobics (patients choosing steps aerobics will be provided with a steps). Moreover, to improve compliance and to ensure safety of the exercise training, each patients will be telephoned weekly during the course of their program.