Abstract: Objective: To explore the effects of the staged comprehensive exercise training program on patients with chronic heart failure. Methods: 60 patients with chronic heart failure were recruited and randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group with 30 in each group. The control group was given regular exercise instruction, and the experimental group was given the phased comprehensive exercise training program. The effects on cardiac function, somatic symptoms, quality of life and prognostic outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: After implementing the phased comprehensive exercise training program, the average left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The average scores of somatic symptoms and quality of life in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The mortality rates of the two groups shown no statistically significant difference, while the re-hospitalization rate caused by heart failure in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The periodic comprehensive exercise training program for patients with chronic heart failure can effectively improve their exercise tolerance and relieve physical symptoms to not only bring better cardiac function and life but also positive prognosis.

Key words: individualization; exercise training; chronic heart failure; activity tolerance; somatic symptoms; quality of life