Mechanical dispersion is a superior echocardiographic feature to predict exercise capacity in preclinical and overt heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) is a syndrome characterized by different degrees of exercise intolerance, which leads to poor quality of life and prognosis. Recently, the European score (HFA-PEFF) was proposed to standardize the diagnosis of HFpEF. Even though Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) is a component of HFA-PEFF, the role of other strain parameters, such as Mechanical Dispersion (MD), has yet to be studied. In this study, we aimed to compare MD and other features from the HFA-PEFF according to their association with exercise capacity in an outpatient population of subjects at risk or suspected HFpEF. METHODS: This is a single-center cross-sectional study performed in an outpatient population of 144 subjects with a median age of 57 years, 58% females, referred to the Echocardiography and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test to investigate HFpEF. RESULTS: MD had a higher correlation to Peak VO2 (r=-0.43) when compared to GLS (r=-0.26), MD presented a significant correlation to Ventilatory Anaerobic Threshold (VAT) (r=-0.20; p = 0.04), while GLS showed no correlation (r=-0.14; p = 0.15). Neither MD nor GLS showed a correlation with the time to recover VO2 after exercise (T1/2). In Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis, MD presented superior performance to GLS to predict Peak VO2 (AUC: 0.77 vs. 0.62), VAT (AUC: 0.61 vs. 0.57), and T1/2 (AUC: 0.64 vs. 0.57). Adding MD to HFA-PEFF improved the model performance (AUC from 0.77 to 0.81). CONCLUSION: MD presented a higher association with Peak VO2 when compared to GLS and most features from the HFA-PEFF. Adding MD to the HFA-PEFF improved the model performance.

Assessment of oxygen-uptake efficiency slope in healthy children and children with heart disease: Generation of appropriate reference values for the OUES variable.

BACKGROUND: Oxygen-uptake efficiency slope (OUES) is an objective measure of functional capacity that does not require a maximal effort but is considerably dependent on anthropometric variables and requires the generation of an appropriate reference value in children. This study aimed to establish normal reference values for OUES/kg in children with and without congenital heart diseases. Besides that, reference values are presented secondarily for OUES per body surface area (OUES/BSA). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: Six hundred and seventy-six children and adolescents performed a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (305 healthy controls and 371 individuals with congenital heart defect), between four and 21 years old (481 males and 195 females, with a mean age of 12 years). RESULTS: The OUES reference value for the classification of children and adolescents with normal functional capacity (>80% of predicted maximum oxygen uptake) was 34.63 (sensitivity 77% and specificity 83%, p < 0.05). Regarding the body surface area, considering healthy patients and those with heart disease, the cutoff value of the OUES/BSA was 1151 with sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 79%. CONCLUSIONS: OUES/kg may be an important marker tool in the differentiation between preserved or abnormal functional capacity in children and adolescents with and without congenital heart disease, even at the submaximal level of exercise.

Exercise Capacity Long-Term after Arterial Switch Operation for Transposition of the Great Arteries.

UNLABELLED: Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a congenital heart defect successfully corrected through arterial switch operation (ASO). Although this technique had significant impact in improving survival, little is known about the functional capacity of the operated patients long-term after surgery. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the functional capacity of children with TGA long-term after ASO with that of healthy children. DESIGN: Retrospective study. PATIENTS: All patients that performed cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) were included in the study. As a control group, healthy children in evaluation for physical activity that performed CPET during the same period were also enrolled. RESULTS: Thirty-one TGA patients (19 male) were compared with 29 age-matched controls (21 male). Maximum oxygen consumption was higher in the control group (45.47 ± 8.05 vs. 40.52 ± 7.19, P = .017), although within normal limits in both groups (above 90% of predicted value). The heart rate behavior during exercise was different in both groups, with a mean chronotropic index significantly lower in the TGA group (63% ± 14 vs. 81% ± 12, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that exercise capacity long-term after ASO in TGA is well preserved although lower than in healthy children what might be explained by the presence of chronotropic incompetence in the TGA group.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test: Background, Applicability and Interpretation.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) has been gaining importance as a method of functional assessment in Brazil and worldwide. In its most frequent applications, CPET consists in applying a gradually increasing intensity exercise until exhaustion or until the appearance of limiting symptoms and/or signs. The following parameters are measured: ventilation; oxygen consumption (VO2); carbon dioxide production (VCO2); and the other variables of conventional exercise testing. In addition, in specific situations, pulse oximetry and flow-volume loops during and after exertion are measured. The CPET provides joint data analysis that allows complete assessment of the cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular and metabolic systems during exertion, being considered gold standard for cardiorespiratory functional assessment.1-6 The CPET allows defining mechanisms related to low functional capacity that can cause symptoms, such as dyspnea, and correlate them with changes in the cardiovascular, pulmonary and skeletal muscle systems. Furthermore, it can be used to provide the prognostic assessment of patients with heart or lung diseases, and in the preoperative period, in addition to aiding in a more careful exercise prescription to healthy subjects, athletes and patients with heart or lung diseases. Similarly to CPET clinical use, its research also increases, with the publication of several scientific contributions from Brazilian researchers in high-impact journals. Therefore, this study aimed at providing a comprehensive review on the applicability of CPET to different clinical situations, in addition to serving as a practical guide for the interpretation of that test. Resumo O teste cardiopulmonar de exercício (TCPE) vem ganhando importância crescente como método de avaliação funcional tanto no Brasil quanto no Mundo. Nas suas aplicações mais frequentes, o teste consiste em submeter o indivíduo a um exercício de intensidade gradativamente crescente até a exaustão ou o surgimento de sintomas e/ou sinais limitantes. Neste exame se mensura a ventilação (VE), o consumo de oxigênio (VO2), a produção de gás carbônico (VCO2) e as demais variáveis de um teste de exercício convencional. Adicionalmente, podem ser verificadas, em situações específicas, a oximetria de pulso e as alças fluxo-volume antes, durante e após o esforço. A análise integrada dos dados permite a completa avaliação dos sistemas cardiovascular, respiratório, muscular e metabólico no esforço, sendo considerado padrão-ouro na avaliação funcional cardiorrespiratória.1-6 O TCPE permite definir mecanismos relacionados à baixa capacidade funcional, os quais podem ser causadores de sintomas como a dispneia, correlacionando-os com alterações dos sistemas cardiovascular, pulmonar e musculoesquelético. Também pode ser de grande aplicabilidade na avaliação prognóstica em cardiopatas, pneumopatas e em pré-operatório, além de auxiliar na prescrição mais criteriosa do exercício em sujeitos normais, em atletas, em cardiopatas e em pneumopatas. Assim como ocorre com o uso clínico, a pesquisa nesse campo também cresce e várias contribuições científicas de pesquisadores nacionais são publicadas em periódicos de alto fator de impacto. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste documento é fornecer uma revisão ampla da aplicabilidade do TCPE nas diferentes situações clínicas, bem como servir como guia prático na interpretação desse teste propedêutico.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: A Retrospective Study

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is widely used in the evaluation of patients with left ventricular dysfunction, and some of these patients have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). However, this test presents specific challenges because of the susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias during maximal levels of exercise. Objective: To evaluate the safety of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with ICD. Methods: The study included patients with ICD who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing between 2007 and 2015. The tests were completed once the electronic devices were programmed. The maximum allowed heart rate reached during exercise was 10 beats below the first therapy zone programmed. Results: The study included 69 patients with mean age 53.7 ± 10.8 years, including 68% men. Exercise time was 8.7±2.3 minutes, with peak oxygen consumption of 13.3 ± 4.3 ml.kg-1.min-1. Peak heart rate was 62.9 ± 13.4% of the maximum rate predicted, with all patients taking specific medication. Ventricular arrhythmia was observed in 29% of the patients, and paired ventricular extrasystoles, ventricular bigeminism or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia were observed in only 14.5% of the patients. There was no sustained ventricular arrhythmia resulting in ICD therapy or other complications, such as inappropriate therapies. The frequency of severe events was 0%, 95% CI (0 - 5.2%). Conclusion: In the sample of patients evaluated, the cardiopulmonary exercise testing was shown to be safe during its performance in a hospital setting, following the safety standards

Teste Cardiopulmonar de Exercício na Hipertensão Pulmonar / Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Pulmonary Hypertension

O teste cardiopulmonar de exercício (TCPE) é um exame complementar que fornece importantes dados sobre a real capacidade funcional e respostas do metabolismo, ventilação e trocas gasosas do paciente. Deste modo, o TCPE permite classificar a aptidão cardiorrespiratória de um indivíduo e identificar distúrbios que limitam a continuidade do exercício, através da análise de diversas variáveis extraídas deste método propedêutico diagnóstico e prognóstico. Neste sentido, situações relativamente comuns mas pouco identificadas na prática clínica, como a hipertensão pulmonar (HP), podem ser melhor abordadas, avaliadas e mensuradas. Assim, a análise de gases expirados através do TCPE pode proporcionar melhor gerenciamento da HP, classificando a capacidade aeróbica e a resposta ventilatória e de troca gasosa nos pacientes com tal distúrbio vascular pulmonar.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test: Background, Applicability and Interpretation / Teste Cardiopulmonar de Exercício: Fundamentos, Aplicabilidade e Interpretação

ABSTRACT Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) has been gaining importance as a method of functional assessment in Brazil and worldwide. In its most frequent applications, CPET consists in applying a gradually increasing intensity exercise until exhaustion or until the appearance of limiting symptoms and/or signs. The following parameters are measured: ventilation; oxygen consumption (VO2); carbon dioxide production (VCO2); and the other variables of conventional exercise testing. In addition, in specific situations, pulse oximetry and flow-volume loops during and after exertion are measured. The CPET provides joint data analysis that allows complete assessment of the cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular and metabolic systems during exertion, being considered gold standard for cardiorespiratory functional assessment.1-6 The CPET allows defining mechanisms related to low functional capacity that can cause symptoms, such as dyspnea, and correlate them with changes in the cardiovascular, pulmonary and skeletal muscle systems. Furthermore, it can be used to provide the prognostic assessment of patients with heart or lung diseases, and in the preoperative period, in addition to aiding in a more careful exercise prescription to healthy subjects, athletes and patients with heart or lung diseases. Similarly to CPET clinical use, its research also increases, with the publication of several scientific contributions from Brazilian researchers in high-impact journals. Therefore, this study aimed at providing a comprehensive review on the applicability of CPET to different clinical situations, in addition to serving as a practical guide for the interpretation of that test.

RESUMO O teste cardiopulmonar de exercício (TCPE) vem ganhando importância crescente como método de avaliação funcional tanto no Brasil quanto no Mundo. Nas suas aplicações mais frequentes, o teste consiste em submeter o indivíduo a um exercício de intensidade gradativamente crescente até a exaustão ou o surgimento de sintomas e/ou sinais limitantes. Neste exame se mensura a ventilação (VE), o consumo de oxigênio (VO2), a produção de gás carbônico (VCO2) e as demais variáveis de um teste de exercício convencional. Adicionalmente, podem ser verificadas, em situações específicas, a oximetria de pulso e as alças fluxo-volume antes, durante e após o esforço. A análise integrada dos dados permite a completa avaliação dos sistemas cardiovascular, respiratório, muscular e metabólico no esforço, sendo considerado padrão-ouro na avaliação funcional cardiorrespiratória.1-6 O TCPE permite definir mecanismos relacionados à baixa capacidade funcional, os quais podem ser causadores de sintomas como a dispneia, correlacionando-os com alterações dos sistemas cardiovascular, pulmonar e musculoesquelético. Também pode ser de grande aplicabilidade na avaliação prognóstica em cardiopatas, pneumopatas e em pré-operatório, além de auxiliar na prescrição mais criteriosa do exercício em sujeitos normais, em atletas, em cardiopatas e em pneumopatas. Assim como ocorre com o uso clínico, a pesquisa nesse campo também cresce e várias contribuições científicas de pesquisadores nacionais são publicadas em periódicos de alto fator de impacto. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste documento é fornecer uma revisão ampla da aplicabilidade do TCPE nas diferentes situações clínicas, bem como servir como guia prático na interpretação desse teste propedêutico.

Efeitos da reabilitação cardiopulmonar sobre o tempo de tolerância ao exercício e a cinética do consumo de oxigênio em cardiopatas isquêmicos / Effects of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in exercise tolerance time and oxygen kinetics in ischemic heart disease

Introdução: A reabilitação cardiopulmonar e metabólica (RCPM) é uma importante estratégia no tratamento da insuficiência cardíaca isquêmica. Entretanto, os seus principais mecanismos de melhora e as correlações com aumento na capacidade de exercício e menos sintomas ainda não estão totalmente esclarecidos. Objetivos: Investigar os efeitos de um programa multidisciplinar de RCPM sobre o tempo de tolerância ao esforço (TLim) e a resposta da fase rápida (fase II) da cinética do consumo de oxigênio (variável relacionada ao desempenho oxidativo muscular) em cardiopatas isquêmicos. Adicionalmente, avaliar as variáveis cardiovasculares, ventilatórias e metabólicas nos TCPE máximo (TRIM) e de endurance (TSCC), além da composição corporal pela bioimpedância elétrica, fração de ejeção (FE) e qualidade de vida. Métodos: Cento e seis pacientes com cardiopatia isquêmica encaminhados ao PRCPM foram submetidos ao TRIM em esteira rolante e, após intervalo de 1 a 7 dias, ao TSCC, com 80% da carga atingida no TRIM. Trinta e sete (37) pacientes foram excluídos, 31 por adesão < 50% às sessões de treinamento, 3 com IMC> 35kg.m-2 e 3 com FE<35%. Após 12 semanas de RCPM, 69 pacientes foram ressubmetidos aos mesmos testes e analisados os efeitos sobre o TLim, fase II da cinética do V'O2 e a qualidade de vida. Resultados: Os pacientes tiveram evidente redução da sua limitação funcional e 95,6% tornaram-se classe I (pré-RCPM era 62,3%), 4,3% classe II (31,8% antes intervenção) e nenhum mais na classe III da NYHA (5,8% anteriormente), após a intervenção da RCPM. Apresentaram melhora significativa no desempenho ao esforço em ambos protocolos TRIM e TSCC, no entanto, o aumento no tempo de tolerância ao esforço foi quase 3 vezes superior no TSCC. Dentre os diversos sistemas avaliados pelo TCPE, o componente periférico foi o que apresentou melhora mais significativa, principalmente pelo incremento na fase II da cinética do V'O2, com redução da constante de tempo (tau) ? (p<0,001)...

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary and Metabolic Rehabilitation (CPMR) is an important strategy in the treatment of ischemic heart failure. However, their main mechanisms of improvement and correlations with increased exercise capacity and fewer symptoms are still not fully understood. Objectives: To investigate the effects of a multidisciplinary CPMR program on exercise tolerance time (TLim) and the response of the fast phase (phase II) of the kinetics of oxygen consumption (variable related to muscle oxidative performance) in ischemic cardiomyopathy. Additionally, to evaluate cardiovascular, ventilatory and metabolic variables in maximal (Max) and endurance (End) cardiopulmonary tests, and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis, ejection fraction (EF) and quality of life. Methods: One hundred and six patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy referred to CPMR underwent Max on a treadmill and, after an interval of 1 to 7 days, the End with 80% load achieved in Max. Thirty-seven (37) patients were excluded, 31 with participation of <50% in the training sessions, 3 with BMI> 35kg.m-2 and 3 with EF <35%. After 12 weeks of CPMR, 69 patients underwent the same tests and analyzed the effects on TLim. Results: The patients had an evident reduction in functional limitation and 95.6% became Class I (pre-CPMR was 62.3%), 4.3% class II (31.8% before intervention) and no longer in class III (5.8% previously), after the intervention of the CPMR. They had significant improvement in performance when effort on both Max and End protocols, however, the increase in exercise tolerance time was nearly 3 times higher in End. Among the various systems assessed by CPET, peripheral component showed the most significant improvement, especially the increase in the phase II kinetics V'O2, reducing the time constant (tau) ? (p <0.001)...

Conceitos fisiológicos de importância para a compreensão das variáveis envolvidas no teste ergométrico e no teste ergométrico e no teste cardiopulmonar / Relevant physiological concepts for the undertanding of variables involved in exercise tests and cardiopulmonary exercise tests

Há muitos anos a utilização de testes com exercício programado ganhou importância e destaque como método auxiliar diagnóstico e prognóstico. Considerando-se o grande desenvolvimento tecnológico das últimas décadas, a associação de novos métodos de investigação e provas de esforço definitivamente se configura como ferramenta de relevância no manejo clínico, permitindo a obtenção de informações inquestionáveis no seguimento de pacientes com doenças cardíovasculares. Adicionalmente presta-se à caracterização e avaliação evolutiva da aptidão física em indivíduos saudáveis e atletas que procuram se aprimorar por meio de programas específicos de treinamento. Nesse contexto, o teste cardiopulmonar ou ergoespirométrico destaca-se como método de importante valor agregado por permitir a análise de variáveis clínicas, eletrocardiográficas, hemodinâmicas e respiratórias, que refletem os ajustes cardiovasculares e respiratórios desencadeados pelo exercício...

Teste ergométrico em portadores de dispositivos cardíacos eletrônicos implantáveis / Exercise testing in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices

O número de pacientes com dispositivos eletrônicos vem crescendo substancialmente nos últimos anos. Marca-passos com inúmeras programações e desfibriladores com ou sem ressincronizadores, cada vez mais comuns, apresentam-se com traçados eletrocardiográficos confundidores. Assim, é necessária a compreensão de princípios básicos e técnicos pelos clínicos, além da integração entre estes e os eletrofisiologistas. O conhecimento de tais princípios básicos é fundamental na condução desses pacientes, de modo que o ergometrista deve estar ciente do tipo de dispositivo, programação, frequência mínima e máxima de comando, presença de desfibrilador, bem como suas frequências de terapias e desfibrilação. Assim, promover-se-á maior segurança durante provas funcionais (teste ergométrico e ergoespirométrico) e programas de treinamento físico. Este artigo de revisão tem por objetivo descrever diversos pontos de interesse na realização do teste ergométrico em portadores de dispositivos eletrônicos.

The number of patients fitted with cardiac implantable electronic devices has grown substantially over the past few years. Pacemakers with countless programming options and defibrillators with or without resynchronization devices are increasingly more common, with confusing electrocardiographic findings. Consequently, general practitioners must understand their basic principles and techniques, in addition to developing stronger links with electrophysiologists. Knowledge of these basic principles is crucial for managing these patients, meaning that people administering ergometric testing must be aware of the type of device and its programming, minimum and maximum command frequency and defibrillator, as well as its treatment and defibrillation frequencies. This will ensure greater safety during ergometric and ergospyrometric exercise testing and exercise programs. This paper describes several points of interest in ergometric testing for patients fitted with cardiac implantable electronic devices.