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. 2019 Jan 29;2019(1):CD003331. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003331.pub5

Mueller 2007.

Methods Parallel‐group RCT
Participants N randomised: 50 (exercise 25, control 25)
Diagnosis (% of participants):
Aetiology: ischaemic, DCM (% not reported)
NYHA: not reported
LVEF: < 40% (% not reported)
Case mix: 100%, as above
Age, years: 55 (SD 10)
Male: 100%
 White: not reported
Inclusion/exclusion criteria:
Inclusion: CHF documented by clinical, angiographic, or echocardiographic criteria; resting EF < 40%
Exclusion: not reported
Interventions Exercise:
Total duration: 1 month
Aerobic/resistance/mix: aerobic
Frequency: 5 sessions/week
Duration: 30 minutes/session cycling, 90 minutes walking each day
Intensity: Borg 12 to 14 (60% to 80% max HR)
Modality: cycling and walking
Setting: indoor cycling sessions were supervised directly by a medical resident; outdoor walking sessions were supervised by exercise physiologists
Other: resided at the rehabilitation centre for 1 month; programme also included education and low‐fat meals prepared daily by the centre's cook
Control group / Comparison:
Usual medical care
Outcomes Morbidity, mortality
Country and setting Switzerland
Single centre
Follow‐up 6.2 years (after randomisation)
Notes Source of funding: RAHN‐Medizinfonds, Zurich; Schweizerische Herzstiftung, Switzerland
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias) Unclear risk Not reported
Allocation concealment (selection bias) Unclear risk Not reported
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) 
 All outcomes Unclear risk Not reported
Selective reporting (reporting bias) Low risk Outcomes described in the methods were reported in the results
Intention‐to‐treat analysis? Low risk ITT was not stated explicitly; however, groups appear to have been analysed according to the original allocation
Incomplete outcome data? Low risk "Data from one patient in the control group was not available at the two‐month evaluation due to refusal to complete testing." "Among subjects in the exercise group, 9 died, and one refused repeat testing. Among patients in the control group, 12 died and two refused repeat testing. Therefore, 14 and 13 patients performed six‐year evaluations in the exercise and control groups, respectively"
QUORUM diagram reported and detailed text provided; no imputation undertaken
Groups balanced at baseline? Low risk "No differences were observed between the exercise and control groups initially in clinical or demographic data, including age, height, weight, pulmonary function or medication status"
Groups received same intervention? Unclear risk "Patients in the exercise group resided at the rehabilitation centre for one month. Control subjects received usual clinical care, including verbal encouragement to remain physically active"
HHS Vulnerability Disclosure