Intervention and control groups
heart failure
HEART FAILURE
Patients allocated to the intervention group receive a 6-month intervention consisting of an individualized pedometer-based walking program with weekly step goals, face-to-face sessions with the physician, and regular telephone calls with the research nurse in between the face-to-face contacts. At baseline, the patients received a wrist-worn pedometer Garmin vívofit that has been previously validated in heart failure patients [Patients allocated to the control group receive their usual care. At the baseline visit, they were educated about the beneficial effects of regular physical activity and encouraged to increase their physical activity level; however, they have not received the pedometer and regular phone calls from the research nurse.