Exercise capacity and quality of life after total cavopulmonary connection at adults / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and phychology profile after total cavopulmonary connection procedure and to identify the significant determinants of quality of life.Methods Data from 21 patients underwent total cavopulmonary connection procedure from January 2008 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients under went echocardiography aud cardiopulmonary exercise testing.Used ST-36 questionnaire to perceived health status.The NT-ProBNP levels was test.Results 21 patients aged between 19 to 36 years(mean 26.6 years) were enrolled.The mean follow-up time was(44.2 ± 29.9) months.The mean EF was (59.4 ± 6.2) ％,and the peak oxygen uptake was (19.9 ± 3.6) ml · kg-1 · min-1,perceut predict value was(52.5 ± 8.9) ％.SF-36 score was well.Independent risk for impaired exercise capacity was interval time from surgery.Conclusion The exercise capacity of total cavopulmonary connection patients was impaired.Identify more predict factors of the quality of these patients need further study.

Exercise capacity and quality of life after total cavopulmonary connection at adults / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and phychology profile after total cavopulmonary connection procedure and to identify the significant determinants of quality of life.Methods Data from 21 patients underwent total cavopulmonary connection procedure from January 2008 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients under went echocardiography aud cardiopulmonary exercise testing.Used ST-36 questionnaire to perceived health status.The NT-ProBNP levels was test.Results 21 patients aged between 19 to 36 years(mean 26.6 years) were enrolled.The mean follow-up time was(44.2 ± 29.9) months.The mean EF was (59.4 ± 6.2) ％,and the peak oxygen uptake was (19.9 ± 3.6) ml · kg-1 · min-1,perceut predict value was(52.5 ± 8.9) ％.SF-36 score was well.Independent risk for impaired exercise capacity was interval time from surgery.Conclusion The exercise capacity of total cavopulmonary connection patients was impaired.Identify more predict factors of the quality of these patients need further study.

Electrocardiographic Characteristics in Patients With Cardiac Amyloidosis / 中国循环杂志

Objective: To study the diagnostic characteristics of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) by non-invasive electrocardiography (ECG) in relevant patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 60 CA patients diagnosed in our hospital from 2008-08 to 2013-12 for their clinical and ECG characteristics. Results: There were 48 male and 12 female patients with the ratio of 4: 1. The ifrst time diagnosis rate was low and the average age for conifrmed diagnosis was at (54. 5±14. 2) years.①There were 32 (53. 3%) cases combining heart failure, 12 (20%) with pleural effusion, 20 (33. 3%) with atrial arrhythmia, 8 (13. 3%)with ventricular arrhythmia, 4 (6. 7%)with sino-atrial block, 15 (25%)with atrio-ventricular block, 4 (6. 7%) with left bundle branch block (LBBB), 5 (8. 3%)with RBBB and 8 (13. 3%)with intra-ventricular block.②There were 32 (53. 3%) cases with low voltage on limb leads, 52 (86. 7%) with pseudo-infarct pattern, 48 (60%) with ST-T abnormality and 30 (50%) combining low voltage on limb leads with pseudo-infarct pattern.③The patients combining pleural effusion and with pseudo-infarct pattern had the increased ratio of low voltage on limb leads, while there were still 22 (45. 8%) cases without pleural effusion had low voltage on limb leads.④ ECG characteristics for 60 CA patients were as follows: QRS duration (104±26) ms, QT interval (404±34) ms, QTc (462±35) ms; the R wave of avR 0. 17 mV, QRS wave 0.30 mV; the R wave of limb leads and V1-3 were all<0.5mV, the S wave of V1-3 were 0. 62mV, 1. 61mV, 1. 56mV; the R/S ratio of V1-3 were 0. 19, 0. 12, 0. 20 respectively. Conclusion: CA patients had the highest incidence of pseudo-infarct pattern; meanwhile, combining with low voltage on limb leads, pseudo-infarct with long Q or S wave and ST-T abnormality but normal QRS duration was helpful for differential diagnosis of CA in clinical practice.

Peak oxygen consumption, NT-proBNP and echocardiographic changes in patients with chronic heart failure / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess peak oxygen consumption (peak VO₂) derived from cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), concentrations of NT-proBNP and echocardiographic changes in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, <40%).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy patients were included and divided into two groups according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification: NYHA II group (17 cases) and NYHA III-IV group (53 cases). The basic clinical information, plasma concentration of NT-proBNP at rest, echocardiographic parameters and peak VO₂from CPET were compared between two groups. Correlation among peak VO₂, NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters in this patient cohort was assessed and their abilities to discriminate the NYHA III-IV grade were analyzed through c-Statistic.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Left atrial diameter ((51.3 ± 7.2) mm vs. (44.0±7.4) mm, P<0.001) was larger, plasma concentration of NT-proBNP (1 379-4 399 pmol/L vs. 1 109-2 356 pmol/L, P<0.01) was higher and peak VO₂((13.4 ± 3.5) ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ vs. (18.2 ± 3.7) ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, P<0.001) were significantly lower in NYHA III-IV group than those in NYHA II group. However, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and LVEF were similar between two groups. Peak VO₂correlated significantly with NT-proBNP (r=-0.311, P<0.01), but neither peak VO₂nor NT-proBNP correlated with echocardiographic parameters (LA, LVEDD and LVEF). ROC analysis showed that peak VO₂had the strongest discriminatory power for detecting NYHA III-IV grade patients (AUC=0.835, P<0.001), followed by the NT-proBNP (AUC=0.723, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Peak VO₂is a more sensitive parameter to detect the disease aggravation (NYHA III-IV grade) of the CHF patients with reduced LVEF compared to plasma NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters (LA, LVEDD, LVEF).</p>

Correlation between VE/VCO2slope and echocardiographic derived systolic pulmonary artery pressure in patients with chronic heart failure / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between ventilator efficiency of cardiopulmonary exercising test (the slope of the relation between ventilation and carbon dioxide production, VE/VCO(2)slope) and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) measured by echocardiography in patients with chronic heart failure (HF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data from 86 HF patients who were treated in Fuwai Hospital between December 2012 and July 2014 and performed the symptom limited maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and echocardiography were retrospectively analyzed.H F patients were divided into 3 groups (mild, moderate and severe) according to the maximum oxygenconsumption (peakVO(2)).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There is a significant linear correlation between VE/VCO(2)slope and sPAP (r=0.260, P=0.016). Using VE/VCO(2)slope>34.2 as a cutoff value to predict patients with sPAP>50 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) yielded a sensitivity of 70.0% and a specificity of 64.3%. The degree of the linear correlation between VE/VCO(2)slope and sPAP is stronger in mild HF patients (peakVO(2)>14 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1), r=0.686, P<0.001). Using VE/VCO(2) slope>34.2 as a cutoff value to predict sPAP>50 mmHg in mild HF patients, the sensitivity is 71.4% and the specificity is 93.8%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is a significant linear correlation between VE/VCO(2)slope and sPAP in HF patients. VE/VCO(2)slope>34.2 is linked with a high possibility of sPAP>50 mmHg in HF patients, especially for patients with mild HF. Invasive hemodynamic examination and impact of special therapy are warranted in future studies to veryfy present results.</p>

Clinical value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing derived oxygen uptake efficiency parameters in patients with end-stage chronic heart failure / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) derived performance of oxygen uptake and ventilation efficiency parameters, including oxygen uptake efficiency plateau (OUEP) , oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES), V·E/V·CO2 slope and lowest V·E/V·CO2, in patients with end-stage chronic heart failure (CHF) and evaluate their clinical value on monitoring cardiac function and hemodynamic status.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 26 end-stage CHF patients considered for heart transplantation were enrolled in this study. CPET, echocardiography and invasive hemodynamic examinations with Swan-Ganz flowing balloon catheter were performed. Correlation analysis was made between oxygen uptake and ventilation efficiency parameters from CPET and echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>OUEP and OUES showed good correlation with peak oxygen consumption (peak V·O2) (r = 0.535, P < 0.01;r = 0.840, P < 0.001). In end-stage CHF patients, the slope of OUEP with respect to peak V·O2 is about 32, but the slope of OUES with respect to peak V·O2 is only about 2. The difference was 16 times. The change of OUEP was more sensitive and significant than those of OUES and peak V·O2 (P < 0.05). OUEP, peak V·O2 (%pred), V·E/V·CO2 slope and lowest V·E/V·CO2 were all correlated well with non-invasive hemodynamic parameters peak cardiac output (r = 0.535, P < 0.01; r = 0.652, P < 0.001; r = -0.640, P < 0.001; r = -0.606, P = 0.001 respectively) and peak cardiac index (r = 0.556, P < 0.01;r = 0.772, P < 0.001; r = -0.641, P < 0.001; r = -0.620, P < 0.001 respectively) derived from CPET, but not correlated with invasive hemodynamic parameters cardiac output and cardiac index at rest (P > 0.05). Both peak V·O2 (%pred) and V·E/V·CO2 slope were significantly correlated with invasive hemodynamic parameters systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (r = -0.424, P < 0.05; r = 0.509, P < 0.01) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (r = -0.479, P < 0.05; r = 0.405, P < 0.05). Peak V·O2 (%pred) was also significantly correlated with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (r = -0.415, P < 0.05), and V·E/V·CO2 slope was significantly correlated with pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.429, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The oxygen uptake and ventilation efficiency parameters derived from CPET, including peak V·O2, OUEP, lowest V·E/V·CO2 and V·E/V·CO2 slope etc, are objectively monitoring and evaluating cardiac function and hemodynamic status. And they are useful for optimizing clinical management of patients with end-stage CHF.</p>

Parameters of oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output ventilatory efficiency during exercise are index of circulatory function in normal subjects / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe oxygen uptake efficiency plateau (OUEP, i.e.highest V˙O2/V˙E) and carbon dioxide output efficiency (lowest V˙E/V˙CO2) parameter changes during exercise in normal subjects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five healthy volunteers performed the symptom limited maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. V˙O2/V˙E and V˙E/V˙CO2 were determined by both arterial and central venous catheters. After blood gas analysis of arterial and venous sampling at the last 30 seconds of every exercise stage and every minute of incremental loading, the continuous parameter changes of hemodynamics, pulmonary ventilation were monitored and oxygen uptake ventilatory efficiency (V˙O2/V˙E and V˙E/V˙CO2) was calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During CPET, as the loading gradually increased, cardiac output, heart rate, mixed venous oxygen saturation, arteriovenous oxygen difference, minute ventilation, minute alveolar ventilation, tidal volume, alveolar ventilation and pulmonary ventilation perfusion ratio increased near-linearly (P < 0.05-0.01, vs.resting); arterial oxygen concentration maintained at a high level without significant change (P > 0.05); stroke volume, respiratory rate, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, arterial blood hydrogen ion concentration and dead space ventilation ratio significantly changed none-linearly (compare resting state P < 0.05-0.01).OUE during exercise increased from 30.9 ± 3.3 at resting state to the highest plateau 46.0 ± 4.7 (P < 0.05 vs.resting state), then, declined gradually after anaerobic threshold (P < 0.05-0.01, vs.OUEP) and reached 36.6 ± 4.4 at peak exercise. The V˙E/V˙CO2 during exercise decreased from the resting state (39.2 ± 6.5) to the minimum value (24.2 ± 2.4) after AT for a few minutes (P > 0.05 vs.earlier stage), then gradually increased after the ventilatory compensation point (P < 0.05 vs.earlier stage) and reached to 25.9 ± 2.7 at peak exercise.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Cardiac and lung function as well as metabolism change during CPET is synchronous.In the absence of pulmonary limit, appearing before and after anaerobic threshold, OUEP and lowest V˙E/V˙CO2 could be used as reliable parameters representing the circulatory function.</p>

Ventilatory efficiency and exercise capacity during exercise in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective To explore the characteristics of ventilatory efficiency and exercise capacity during cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).Methods Pulmonary function test,arterial blood gas analysis and cardiopulmonary exercise testing were performed in 28 IPF patients (IPF group) from April 2012 to April 2013 and 28 healthy volunteers (control group).And the relevant parameters were measured and compared.Results No significant differences existed in age [(57.8 ±9.8) vs.(59.2 ±5.5) years],gender or body mass index (BMI) [(23.8 ±2.7) vs.(25.0 ± 2.8) kg/m2,P ＞ 0.05].The paramneters of pulmonary function test,such as forced vital capacity ％ predicted (74.8 ± 14.6 vs.101.8 ± 10.8),forced expiratory volume in 1 second ％ predicted (73.8 ± 14.6 vs.97.0 ± 10.1),maximum voluntary ventilation ％ predicted (77.5 ± 14.9 vs.95.4 ±24.5),total lung capacity ％ predicted (75.6 ± 12.4 vs.99.8 ± 5.4),residual volume ％ predicted (80.7 ± 15.4 vs.95.8 ± 11.3),diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide ％ predicted (66.2 ± 13.7 vs.103.2 ± 17.3) in the IPF group,were significantly lower than those of the control group (P ＜ 0.01).The parameters of arterial blood gas analysis,such as PaO2 [(72.7 ± 7.3) vs.(92.6 ± 3.8) mmHg] and SaO2 (94.3 ± 2.1 vs.98.3 ± 0.7),were lower than those of the control group (P ＜ 0.01).Thus P(A-a) O2 in the IPF group was higher than that in the control group (33.3 ± 5.7 vs.17.8 ± 1.9,P ＜0.01).These results strongly suggested that IPF group had restrictive ventilatory dysfunction and impaired gas exchange.The IPF patients had higher VE/VCO2-slope (37.4 ± 5.3 vs.25.7 ± 2.5,P ＜ 0.01) and lowest VE/VCO2 (39.2 ±6.7 vs.30.6 ± 2.7,P ＜ 0.01) than the controls; VE/VCO2 and VD/VT during every period were significantly higher in the IPF group than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.01) ; during peak exercise,peakLoad％pred (70.4 ±±29.9 vs.104.8 ±29.7,P ＜0.01) and peakVO2％pred (68.7 ±29.8 vs.98.7 ±36.4,P =0.001) were significantly lower in the IPF group than those in the control group.In the IPF group,VE/VCO2@AT,VE/VCO2-slope and lowest VE/VCO2 had a negative correlation with DLCO％pred (r=-0.589,P ＜0.01; r=-0.481,P＜0.05; r=-0.527,P＜0.05).In the IPF group,VE/VCO2@AT,VE/VCO2-slope and lowest VE/VCO2 had a negative correlation with peakVO2％ pred (r =-0.548,P ＜ 0.05 ; r =-0.539,P ＜ 0.05 ; r =-0.564,P ＜ 0.05).So the exercise tolerance and ventilation efficiency of the IPF group decreased significantly.Conclusion Cardiopulmonary exercise testing reveals that the ventilation efficiency of IPF patients decreases significantly so as to seriously affect their exercise tolerance

Correlation of heart rate recovery after exercise test with exercise capacity in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective To explore the correlation between heart rate recovery after exercise test and disease severity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and assess its impact on the exercise capacity of COPD patients.Methods Arterial blood gas analysis, pulmonary lung function test and cardiopulmonary exercise testing were performed in 60 patients with stable COPD and 50 healthy volunteers.Based on the heart rate recovery after exercise test, COPD patients were divided into normal heart rate recovery group(n =41)and abnormal heart rate recovery group(n =19).Results The COPD patients had lower exercise capacity(peak oxygen uptake as percentage of predicted value, peak VO2％ pred)(66 ± 15vs.89±11, P＜0.01), peak heart rate [(134±21)vs.(149±13)beats/min, P＜0.01], heart rate recovery[(18 ± 9)vs.(27 ± 10)beats/min, P ＜ 0.01] and higher resting heart rate [(83 ± 13)vs.(77 ± 13)beats/min, P ＜0.01] than the controls.Compared with normal heart rate recovery group, forced expiratory volume in one second as percentage of predicted(FEV1 ％ pred)and exercise capacity decreased more significantly in abnormal heart rate recovery group(38 ± 15 vs.52 ± 16, P＜0.05 and 57 ± 12 vs.71 ±14, P ＜0.01).Heart rate recovery was significantly correlated with FEV1％ pred and peak V O2％ pred(r=0.42, P ＜ 0.01 and r =0.52, P ＜ 0.01).Multivariate regression analysis showed that heart rate recovery and FEV1 ％ pred could be used as independent predictors of exercise capacity in COPD patients.Conclusion In COPD patients, heart rate recovery is correlated with the degree of disease severity and it may be an independent predictor of exercise capacity.