587 Exercise induced pulmonary hypertension in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a combined cardiopulmonary exercise test-echocardiographic study

Abstract Aims Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has been described in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and it was associated with a worse prognosis. Nevertheless in most HCM patients, despite normal pulmonary pressures at rest, congestive symptoms are elicited by exercise. In the present study, combining cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) with echocardiography, we aimed to evaluate the presence of exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension (EiPAH) its role in functional limitation and its prognostic significance in a cohort of patients with obstructive and non-obstructive HCM. Methods and results 182 HCM patients (35% females, mean age 47.5 ± 15.9) undergoing CPET. During CPET, LVOT velocities and trans-tricuspid gradient were measured. Thirty-seven patients (20%) developed sPAP > 40 mmHg at peak exercise (EiPAH). EiPAH was associated with an lower exercise performance, larger left atrial volumes, higher left ventricular gradient and higher VE/VCO2 slope .At multivariable model baseline sPAP (P < 0.0001) and baseline left ventricular obstruction (LVOT) (P = 0.028) were significantly associated with EiPAH .Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed EiPAH was a significant predictor of HCM –related morbidity (hazards ratio: 6.21, 95% CI: 1.47–26.19; P = 0.05; 4.21, 95% CI: 1.94–9.12; P < 0.001) for the primary and the secondary endpoint respectively. Conclusions EiPAH was present in about one fifth of HCM patients without evidence of elevated pulmonary pressures at rest, and was associated with adverse clinical outcome. Diagnosing EiPAH by exercise echo/CPET may help physicians to detect early stage of PAH requiring a closer clinical monitoring and individualized treatment strategies.

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Isolated Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension Associates with Higher Cardiovascular Risk in Scleroderma Patients

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9061910 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 1910

Author(s):

Rosalinda Madonna ◽

Riccardo Morganti ◽

Francesco Radico ◽

Piergiusto Vitulli ◽

Marco Mascellanti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Hypertension ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Risk Score ◽

Exercise Test ◽

Prognostic Significance ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test ◽

Right Atrial ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise ◽

Exercise Induced ◽

Clinical Worsening

Background and Aim: Isolated exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension (ExPH) associates with cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with left heart disease. We investigated its prognostic significance in scleroderma patients at risk for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Methods: In 26 consecutive scleroderma female patients with either low (n = 13) or intermediate probability (n = 13) of pulmonary hypertension (PH) at rest, we evaluated, both at time 0 and 1 year, prognostic determinants of CV risk: onset or progression of heart failure/syncope; worsening of functional class; functional performance at the 6-minute walking test and at cardiopulmonary exercise test; right atrial area; and pericardial effusion. We assigned a severity score 1–3 to each prognostic determinant, derived an overall CV risk score, and its 0–1 year change. Isolated ExPH during the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) was defined as absence of PH at rest, reduced peak VO2, VE/VCO2 >30 at anaerobic threshold, reduced O2 pulse, and ΔVO2/ΔW <9 mL/min/W. We then correlated ExPH at time 0 with clinical worsening (risk score increase >20% after 1 year). Results: ExPH was strongly associated with clinical worsening compared to patients without ExPH (p = 0.005). In patients without ExPH, none had > 20% increased CV risk score after 1 year. Conversely, about 50% of patients with ExPH had such an increase, suggesting a worsening of prognosis. Conclusions: Isolated ExPH associates with higher cardiovascular risk and thus clinical worsening in scleroderma patients. The assessment of ExPH by CPET can thus contribute to a better risk stratification and the planning of a more adequate follow-up.

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Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10112312 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 2312

Author(s):

Adrián Bayonas-Ruiz ◽

Francisca Muñoz-Franco ◽

Vicente Ferrer ◽

Carlos Pérez-Caballero ◽

María Sabater-Molina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Oxygen Consumption ◽

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy ◽

Functional Capacity ◽

Exercise Test ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test ◽

Cycle Ergometer ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Exercise Intolerance ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise

Background: Patients with chronic diseases frequently adapt their lifestyles to their functional limitations. Functional capacity in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) can be assessed by stress testing. We aim to review and analyze the available data from the literature on the value of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET) in HCM. Objective measurements from CPET are used for evaluation of patient response to traditional and new developing therapeutic measurements. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane in Mar-20. The original search yielded 2628 results. One hundred and two full texts were read after the first screening, of which, 69 were included for qualitative synthesis. Relevant variables to be included in the review were set and 17 were selected, including comorbidities, body mass index (BMI), cardiac-related symptoms, echocardiographic variables, medications and outcomes. Results: Study sample consisted of 69 research articles, including 11,672 patients (48 ± 14 years old, 65.9%/34.1% men/women). Treadmill was the most common instrument employed (n = 37 studies), followed by upright cycle-ergometer (n = 16 studies). Mean maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) was 22.3 ± 3.8 mL·kg−1·min−1. The highest average values were observed in supine and upright cycle-ergometer (25.3 ± 6.5 and 24.8 ± 9.1 mL·kg−1·min−1; respectively). Oxygen consumption in the anaerobic threshold (ATVO2) was reported in 18 publications. Left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOT) > 30 mmHg was present at baseline in 31.4% of cases. It increased to 49% during exercise. Proportion of abnormal blood pressure response (ABPRE) was higher in severe (>20 mm) vs. mild hypertrophy groups (17.9% vs. 13.6%, p < 0.001). Mean VO2max was not significantly different between severe vs. milder hypertrophy, or for obstructive vs. non-obstructive groups. Occurrence of arrhythmias during functional assessment was higher among younger adults (5.42% vs. 1.69% in older adults, p < 0.001). Twenty-three publications (9145 patients) evaluated the prognostic value of exercise capacity. There were 8.5% total deaths, 6.7% cardiovascular deaths, 3.0% sudden cardiac deaths (SCD), 1.2% heart failure death, 0.6% resuscitated cardiac arrests, 1.1% transplants, 2.6% implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapies and 1.2 strokes (mean follow-up: 3.81 ± 2.77 years). VO2max, ATVO2, METs, % of age-gender predicted VO2max, % of age-gender predicted METs, ABPRE and ventricular arrhythmias were significantly associated with major outcomes individually. Mean VO2max was reduced in patients who reached the combined cardiovascular death outcome compared to those who survived (−6.20 mL·kg−1·min−1; CI 95%: −7.95, −4.46; p < 0.01). Conclusions: CPET is a valuable tool and can safely perform for assessment of physical functional capacity in patients with HCM. VO2max is the most common performance measurement evaluated in functional studies, showing higher values in those based on cycle-ergometer compared to treadmill. Subgroup analysis shows that exercise intolerance seems to be more related to age, medication and comorbidities than HCM phenotype itself. Lower VO2max is consistently seen in HCM patients at major cardiovascular risk.

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Novel rehabilitation program after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation improves functional tests and reduces levels of prognostic heart failure biomarkers

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.1079 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

T Chwyczko ◽

L Zalucka ◽

E Smolis-Bak ◽

I Kowalik ◽

E Noszczak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Exercise Test ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test ◽

Rehabilitation Program ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Prognostic Biomarkers ◽

Funding Source ◽

Walking Test ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise ◽

Galectin 3

Abstract Background Rehabilitation after LVAD implantation is increasingly used. We developed the novel method of comprehensive rehabilitation starting directly after LVAD implantation. Study group 21 recent LVAD (15 Heart Mate III, 6 HeartWare) recipients (56.2±11.7 yrs, 100% men) were included to 5-week rehabilitation program, which included supervised endurance training on cycloergometer (5 times per week), resistance training, general fitness exercises with elements of equivalent and coordination exercises (every day). 6-minute walking test (6MWT), cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and prognostic biomarkers: NT-proBNP, Galectin-3 and ST2 were investigated at the beginning and at the end of rehabilitation program. Results See Table 1. At the end of rehabilitation program, significant increase in 6MWT distance, maximum workload, peak VO2 and upward shift of anaerobic threshold in CPET were observed in all patients. Significant reductions of NTproBNP, ST2 and galectin-3 levels were observed. There were no major adverse events during rehabilitaton. Conclusions Comprehensive novel rehabilitation in LVAD recipients is safe and results in significant improvement of 6-minutes walking test distance and cardiopulmonary exercise test results. Moreover, this novel rehabilitation program reduces levels of prognostic biomarkers of heart failure: NT-proBNP, Galectin-3 and ST2. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Center for Research and Development - STRATEGMED II project

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Oxygen saturation

A Practical Guide to the Interpretation of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests ◽

10.1093/med/9780198834397.003.0014 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 97-101

Author(s):

William J.M. Kinnear ◽

James H. Hull

Keyword(s):

Oxygen Saturation ◽

Vascular Disease ◽

Exercise Test ◽

Elite Athletes ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test ◽

Oxygen Desaturation ◽

Pulmonary Vascular Disease ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise ◽

Ventilatory Capacity ◽

Exercise Induced

This chapter describes how desaturation during a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is uncommon. A fall of more than 4% from resting values is considered abnormal. Oxygen desaturation is usually caused by lung or pulmonary vascular disease, reflecting ventilation–perfusion inequality or impaired diffusion. Occasionally, a right-to-left shunt will open up in the heart during exercise. Some elite athletes show exercise-induced arterial hypoxaemia, when the ability of their muscles to utilize oxygen cannot be met by the subject’s ventilatory capacity.

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