Shen T; Department of Cardiology, Peking University Third Hospital,
Li J; Song Y; Ren C; Zhao W

Cardiology Journal. 33:e00226002, 2026.

BACKGROUND: There has been insufficient research on the assessment of
exercise capacity in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) following
percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who exhibit inspiratory muscle
weakness (IMW).

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study involving CHD patients who
underwent PCI at Peking University Third Hospital Heart Rehabilitation
Center between January 2019 and December 2021 was conducted. Patients who
had undergone inspiratory muscle testing and cardiopulmonary exercise
testing (CPET) were included, and their clinical data were collected and
analyzed.

RESULTS: A total of 571 post-PCI CHD patients were included in the study.
The average age was 60.8 +/- 4.3 years, and 479 male patients (83.9%) were
included. The average maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) of the enrolled
patients was 90.7 +/- 26.1 cm H2O, with 56 patients (9.8%) presenting with
IMW. The IMW group had lower peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) (17.4 +/- 4.2
vs. 19.3 +/- 5.1 mL/ /min/kg, p < 0.001) and oxygen uptake efficiency
slopes (OUES) (1464.7 +/- 368.5 vs. 1619.2 +/- 400.4, p = 0.004). MIP
correlated with VO2peak (r = 0.719, p < 0.001) and OUES (r = 0.622, p <
0.001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that VO2peak (OR =
0.917, 95% CI = 0.858 ~ 0.980) and history of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR = 1.705, 95% CI = 0.934~ 3.112) were
independent risk factors for IMW.

CONCLUSIONS: After PCI, CHD patients exhibiting IMW, especially those
with comorbid COPD, demonstrated reduced exercise tolerance and oxygen
uptake efficiency.