Objective To investigate the association of patterns and degree of exercise limitation, as assessed by CPET, with clinical, echocardiographic, laboratory abnormalities and quality of life (QoL) after PE.
Methods In a prospective cohort study of unselected consecutive all-comers with PE, survivors of the index acute event underwent 3-month and 12-month follow-up, including CPET. We defined cardiopulmonary limitation as ventilatory inefficiency or insufficient cardiocirculatory reserve. Deconditioning was defined as peak VO₂<80% with no other abnormality.
Results Overall, 396 patients were included. At 3 months, prevalence of cardiopulmonary limitation and deconditioning was 50.1% (34.7% mild/moderate; 15.4% severe) and 12.1%, respectively; at 12 months, it was 44.8% (29.1% mild/moderate 15.7% severe) and 14.9%. Cardiopulmonary limitation and its severity were associated with age (OR per decade 2.05; 95% CI 1.65–2.55), history of chronic lung disease (OR 2.72; 95% CI 1.06–6.97), smoking (OR 5.87; 2.44–14.15), and intermediate- or high-risk acute PE (OR 4.36; 95% CI 1.92–9.94). Severe cardiopulmonary limitation at 3 months was associated with the prospectively defined, combined clinical-haemodynamic endpoint of “post-PE impairment” (OR 6.40, 95% CI 2.35–18.45) and with poor disease-specific and generic health-related QoL.
Conclusion Abnormal exercise capacity of cardiopulmonary origin is frequent after PE, being associated with clinical and hemodynamic impairment as well as long-term QoL reduction. CPET can be considered for selected patients with persisting symptoms after acute PE to identify candidates for closer follow-up and possible therapeutic interventions.