Muscular heart failure patients 'have a better chance at survival'

Washington, July 22 (ANI): Heart failure patients with more muscle have the potential to increase their length of life, University of Alberta research has discovered.

Antigone Oreopoulos, a researcher from the U of A's School of Public Health, studied 140 patients with heart failure.

Study participants underwent a special scan to measure there muscle mass and body fat.

Oreopoulos' research found that having more muscle was associated with better nutritional status and lower severity of heart failure, while higher body fat was associated with increased inflammation and reduced exercise capacity.

This suggests that in patients with heart failure having more muscle mass and lower fat may be beneficial.

Oreopoulos' research has been published this month in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings. (ANI)