Pucci G; Alessio S; Russo A; Cerasari A; Dominioni I; Sanesi L; Filippucci L; Vaudo G;

Minerva cardioangiologica [Minerva Cardioangiol] 2020 Apr; Vol. 68 (2), pp. 72-80.

Background: HF patients typically show effort intolerance due to a reduction in peak exercise oxygen (peak VO2) consumption, which is related to inability to adapt systolic function to increased demand. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) is a surrogate marker of cardiac contractility and a powerful predictor of adverse prognosis in chronic heart failure (HF). The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between EF and other echocardiographic findings with peak VO2 in a population of HF individuals undergoing cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX).
Methods: We evaluated 101 patients (61% hypertensives, 74% with documented coronary artery disease) undergoing both resting echocardiography and symptom-limited CPX.
Results: Mean age was 58±13 years, 83% were males. Mean EF was 55±12%; 20% of the patients showed EF<40%. Mean test duration was 9.4±2.2 min. Average peak VO2 was 21±6 mL/kg/min. Peak VO2 showed a robust positive correlation with EF (R=0.42, P<0.001). Other independent predictors of peak VO2 were age, male sex, height and tricuspidal anular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), this latter reflecting right ventricular dysfunction. When subjects were dichotomized according to predicted peak VO2values, those with higher-than-predicted peak VO2 showed significantly lower VE/VCO2 slope, and higher values of both oxygen pulse and VO2/WR slope.
Conclusions: EF and TAPSE are associated with peak VO2 in HF patients independently from age, sex and height. The evaluation of potentially relevant mechanisms affecting exercise capacity in HF patients requires further investigation.

Magrì D; Piepoli M; Corrà U;  et al, MECKI score Research Group

Journal of cardiac failure [J Card Fail] 2020 May 16. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 May 16

Background: Heart failure with midrange ejection fraction (HFmrEF) represents a heterogeneous category where phenotype, as well as prognostic assessment, remains still debated. The present study explores a specific HFmrEF subset, namely those who recovered from a reduced EF (rec-HFmrEF) and, particularly, it focuses on the possible additive prognostic role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).
Methods and Results: We analyzed data of 4,535 HF with reduced EF (HFrEF) and 1,176 rec-HFmrEF outpatients from the Metabolic Exercise combined with Cardiac and Kidney Indexes (MECKI) database. The end-point was cardiovascular death at 5 years. The median follow-up was 1,343 days (25th-75th range, 627-2,403 days). Cardiovascular death occurred in 552 HFrEF and 61 rec-HFmrEF patients. The multivariate analysis confirmed an independent role of the MECKI score’s variables in HFrEF (C-index=0.744) whereas, in the rec-HFmrEF group, only age and peak oxygen uptake (pVO ₂ ) remained associated to the end-point (C-index=0.745). A pVO ₂ ≤55% of predicted and a ventilatory efficiency ≥31 resulted as the most accurate cut-off values in the outcome prediction.
Conclusions: Present data support the CPET and, particularly, the pVO ₂ , as a useful tool in the rec-HFmrEF prognostic assessment. Peak VO ₂ ≤55% predicted and ventilatory efficiency ≥31 might help to identify a high risk rec-HFmrEF subgroup.

Ersboll AS; Bojer AS; Hauge MG; Johansen M; Damm P; Gustafsson F;
Vejlstrup NG.

Journal of the American Heart Association. 7(20):e008991, 2018 10 16.
VI 1

Background Long-term clinical studies of peripartum cardiomyopathy ( PPCM)
are few. We aimed to measure the long-term effect of PPCM on cardiac
function in comparison with the long-term effects of severe preeclampsia
and uncomplicated pregnancy.
Methods and Results A nationwide Danish
cohort of women diagnosed with PPCM from 2005 to 2014 ( PPCM group) were
invited to participate in a clinical follow-up study including maximal
cardiopulmonary exercise testing and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
Matched women with previous severe preeclampsia (preeclampsia group) and
previous uncomplicated pregnancies (uncomplicated pregnancies group)
served as comparison groups. A total of 84 women with 28 in each group
participated. Median time to follow-up after PPCM was 91 months. Most
women (85%) in the PPCM group reported no symptoms of heart failure. Mean
left ventricular ejection fraction in the PPCM group was normal at 62%,
but significantly lower than in the preeclampsia group and the
uncomplicated pregnancies group where mean left ventricular ejection
fraction was 69% and 67%, respectively ( P<0.0001). Women in the PPCM
group also had impaired diastolic function with reduced left ventricular
peak filling rate, left atrial passive emptying volume, and left atrial
passive emptying fraction. Maximal exercise capacity (peak VO2) was also
reduced in the PPCM group compared with the preeclampsia group and the
uncomplicated pregnancies group, and PPCM , high body mass index, and low
left ventricular ejection fraction independently predicted reduced peak VO2.
Only 1 woman with PPCM had late gadolinium enhancement.
Conclusions Women generally recovered left ventricular ejection fraction and were
asymptomatic 7 years after PPCM , but had subtle diastolic dysfunction on
cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and reduced peak VO2. Focal myocardial
fibrosis assessed with late gadolinium enhancement was, however, uncommon.

Wijeysundera DN; Pearse RM; Shulman MA; Abbott TEF; Torres E; Ambosta A;
Croal BL; Granton JT; Thorpe KE; Grocott MPW; Farrington C; Myles PS;
Cuthbertson BH; METS study investigators.

Lancet. 391(10140):2631-2640, 2018 06 30.
VI 1

BACKGROUND: Functional capacity is an important component of risk
assessment for major surgery. Doctors’ clinical subjective assessment of
patients’ functional capacity has uncertain accuracy. We did a study to
compare preoperative subjective assessment with alternative markers of
fitness (cardiopulmonary exercise testing [CPET], scores on the Duke
Activity Status Index [DASI] questionnaire, and serum N-terminal
pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT pro-BNP] concentrations) for predicting
death or complications after major elective non-cardiac surgery.

METHODS: We did a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study at
25 hospitals: five in Canada, seven in the UK, ten in Australia, and three
in New Zealand. We recruited adults aged at least 40 years who were
scheduled for major non-cardiac surgery and deemed to have one or more
risk factors for cardiac complications (eg, a history of heart failure,
stroke, or diabetes) or coronary artery disease. Functional capacity was
subjectively assessed in units of metabolic equivalents of tasks by the
responsible anaesthesiologists in the preoperative assessment clinic,
graded as poor (<4), moderate (4-10), or good (>10). All participants also
completed the DASI questionnaire, underwent CPET to measure peak oxygen
consumption, and had blood tests for measurement of NT pro-BNP
concentrations. After surgery, patients had daily electrocardiograms and
blood tests to measure troponin and creatinine concentrations until the
third postoperative day or hospital discharge. The primary outcome was
death or myocardial infarction within 30 days after surgery, assessed in
all participants who underwent both CPET and surgery. Prognostic accuracy
was assessed using logistic regression, receiver-operating-characteristic
curves, and net risk reclassification.

FINDINGS: Between March 1, 2013, and March 25, 2016, we included 1401
patients in the study. 28 (2%) of 1401 patients died or had a myocardial
infarction within 30 days of surgery. Subjective assessment had 19.2%
sensitivity (95% CI 14.2-25) and 94.7% specificity (93.2-95.9) for
identifying the inability to attain four metabolic equivalents during
CPET. Only DASI scores were associated with predicting the primary outcome
(adjusted odds ratio 0.96, 95% CI 0.83-0.99; p=0.03).

INTERPRETATION: Subjectively assessed functional capacity should not be
used for preoperative risk evaluation. Clinicians could instead consider a
measure such as DASI for cardiac risk assessment.

Lu KD; Bar-Yoseph R; Radom-Aizik S; Cooper DM.

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. 29(9):1392-1401,
2019 Sep.

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity and fitness are essential for healthy
growth in children. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
(NHANES) evaluated fitness by estimating VO2 max from submaximal
measurements of heart rate (HR) during graded treadmill exercise. Our aims
were (a) to examine how well NHANES methodology used to estimate VO2 max
correlated with actual VO2 max and (b) to evaluate a novel fitness metric
using actual data collected during exercise and its relationship to
physical activity and sedentary time, lipid profiles, and body
composition.

METHODS: Fifty-three adolescents completed NHANES submaximal exercise
protocol and maximal graded cardiopulmonary exercise testing. We used a
novel approach to quantifying fitness (DELTAvelocity x incline x body mass
(VIM)/DELTAHR slopes) and evaluated its relationship to physical activity
and sedentary time using NHANES data (n = 4498). In a subset (n = 740), we
compared DELTAVIM/DELTAHR slopes to NHANES estimated VO2 max and examined
their relationship to cardiovascular risk factors (BMI percentiles and
lipid levels).

RESULTS: Measured VO2 peak was moderately correlated with NHANES
estimated VO2 max (r = 0.53, P < 0.01). Significantly higher
DELTAVIM/DELTAHR slopes were associated with increased physical activity
and decreased sedentary time. DELTAVIM/DELTAHR slopes were negatively
associated with LDL, triglycerides, and BMI percentiles (P < 0.01). In
general, the two fitness models were similar; however, DELTAVIM/DELTAHR
was more discriminating than NHANES in quantifying the relationship
between fitness and LDL levels.

CONCLUSION: We found that the NHANES estimated VO2 max accounted for
approximately 28% of the variability in the measured VO2 peak. Our
approach to estimating fitness (DELTAVIM/DELTAHR slopes) using actual data
provided similar relationships to lipid levels. We suggest that fitness
measurements based on actually measured data may produce more accurate
assessments of fitness and, ultimately, better approaches linking exercise
to health in children.

Warmerdam EG, Magni F, Leiner T, Doevendans PA, Sieswerda GT, van
Wijk SW, Breur HM, Driesen BW, Grotenhuis HB, Takken T.

J Cardiol. 2020 May 10. pii: S0914-5087(20)30105-2. doi:
10.1016/j.jjcc.2020.02.025. [Epub ahead of print]

BACKGROUND: The arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great
arteries has excellent survival, but a substantial number of patients suffer from
a reduced exercise capacity. The goal of this study was to identify imaging
parameters associated with a reduced exercise capacity in patients after ASO.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of ASO patients who underwent
cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) between 2007 and 2017. Reduced exercise
performance was defined as a reduced workload peak (Wpeak) with Z-score <-2 or a
peak oxygen uptake indexed for weight (VO2peak/kg) with Z-score <-2. Data on
echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance performed within 1 year of the
CPET were collected for comparison.
RESULTS: A total of 81 ASO patients (age 17±7 years) were included. Reduced
exercise performance was found in 22 patients (27%) as expressed by either a
reduced Wpeak and/or a reduced VO2peak/kg. Main pulmonary artery gradient and
tricuspid regurgitation gradient by echocardiography were found to be associated
with reduced Wpeak (p=0.031; p=0.020, respectively). The main pulmonary artery
gradient and tricuspid regurgitation gradient by echocardiography were found to
be associated with reduced VO2peak/kg (p=0.009; p=0.019, respectively). No left
ventricular parameters were found to be associated with abnormal exercise
performance.
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that ASO patients frequently experience
reduced exercise capacity. Echocardiographic evidence of main pulmonary artery
stenosis and increased right ventricular pressure were associated with reduced
exercise capacity, and are therefore key to monitor during serial follow-up of
ASO patients.

Schoffl I, Ehrlich B, Stanger S, Rottermann K, Dittrich S, Schoffl V.

Pediatr Cardiol. 2020 May 9. pii: 10.1007/s00246-020-02359-2.

Based on the wide range of problems to effectively perform cardiopulmonary testing in young children, this study strives to develop a new cardiopulmonary exercise test for children using a mobile testing device worn in a backpack in order to test children during their natural movement habits, namely, running outdoors. A standard cardiopulmonary exercise ramp test on a cycle ergometer was performed by a group of twenty 7-10-year-old children. The results were compared with a self-paced incremental running test performed using a mobile cardiopulmonary exercise measuring device in an outdoor park. The children were able to reach significantly higher values for most of the cardiopulmonary exercise variables during the outdoor test and higher. Whereas a plateau in [Formula: see text] was reached by 25% of the children during the outdoor test, only 75% were able to reach a reasonable VT2, let alone [Formula: see text], during the bicycle test. The heart rate at VT1, the O2-pulse, and the OUES were comparable between both tests. OUES was also positively correlated with [Formula: see text] in both tests. Testing children outdoors using a mobile cardiopulmonary exercise unit represents an alternative to standard exercise testing, but without the added problems of exercise equipment like treadmills or bicycles. It allows for individualized exercise testing with the aim of standardized testing durations instead of standardized testing protocols. The running speeds determined during the outdoor tests may then be used to develop age-adapted testing protocols for treadmill testing.

Mann J, Williams M, Wilson J, Yates D, Harrison A

BJA, 124 (4): 473-479 (2020)

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) identifies high-risk patients before major surgery. In addition to using oxygen uptake and ventilatory efficiency to assess functional capacity, CPET can be used to identify underlying myocardial dysfunction through the assessment of the oxygen uptake to heart rate response (oxygen pulse response). We examined the relationship of oxygen pulse response, in combination with other CPET variables and known cardiac risk factors, with mortality after colorectal cancer surgery.
METHODS: This work focused on a retrospective cohort study of patients who had CPET and underwent colorectal cancer surgery. The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital and 30-day mortality. Ventilatory inefficiency (Ve/Vco2>34) and exercise-induced myocardial dysfunction (abnormal oxygen pulse response) were investigated for an association with mortality using bivariable analysis and multivariable Cox regression.
RESULTS: A total of 1214 patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery were included, and the primary outcome occurred in 26 patients (2.1%). Multivariable Cox regression showed abnormal oxygen pulse response was independently associated with the primary outcome (odds ratio [OR]=2.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-6.47). Bivariable analysis showed that Ve/Vco2 >34 was associated with the primary outcome (OR=3.43; 95% CI, 1.47-8.01). Combining Ve/Vco2 >34 and abnormal oxygen pulse response conferred an increased risk for the primary outcome (OR=4.47; 95% CI, 1.62-12.34), compared with Ve/Vco2 >34 and normal oxygen pulse response. CONCLUSION: Ventilatory inefficiency and an abnormal oxygen pulse response were independently associated with short- (30-day) and long-term (2-yr) mortality. Oxygen pulse response may provide additional information when considering perioperative risk stratification.

Accalai E; Vignati C; Salvioni E; Pezzuto B; Contini M; Cadeddu C; Meloni L; Agostoni P;

European journal of preventive cardiology [Eur J Prev Cardiol] 2020 Apr 28, pp. 2047487320920755. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Apr 28.

Aims: In heart failure, oxygen uptake and cardiac output measurements at peak and during exercise are important in defining heart failure severity and prognosis. Several cardiopulmonary exercise test-derived parameters have been proposed to estimate stroke volume during exercise, including the oxygen pulse (oxygen uptake/heart rate). Data comparing measured stroke volume and the oxygen pulse or stroke volume estimates from the oxygen pulse at different stages of exercise in a sizeable population of healthy individuals and heart failure patients are lacking.
Methods: We analysed 1007 subjects, including 500 healthy and 507 heart failure patients, who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing with stroke volume determination by the inert gas rebreathing technique. Stroke volume measurements were made at rest, submaximal (∼50% of exercise) and peak exercise. At each stage of exercise, stroke volume estimates were obtained considering measured haemoglobin at rest, predicted exercise-induced haemoconcentration and peripheral oxygen extraction according to heart failure severity.
Results: A strong relationship between oxygen pulse and measured stroke volume was observed in healthy and heart failure subjects at submaximal (R ²  = 0.6437 and R ²  = 0.6723, respectively), and peak exercise (R ²  = 0.6614 and R ²  = 0.5662) but not at rest. In healthy and heart failure subjects, agreement between estimated and measured stroke volume was observed at submaximal (-3 ± 37 and -11  ±  72 ml, respectively) and peak exercise (1 ± 31 and 6 ± 29 ml, respectively) but not at rest.
Conclusion: In heart failure patients, stroke volume estimation and oxygen pulse during exercise represent stroke volume, albeit with a relevant individual data dispersion so that both can be used for population studies but cannot be reliably applied to a single subject. Accordingly, whenever needed stroke volume must be measured directly.

do Nascimento DM, Machado KC, Bock PM, Saffi MAL, Goldraich LA, Silveira AD, Clausell N, Schaan BD

BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2020 Apr 25;20(1):200. doi: 10.1186/s12872-020-01481-6.

BACKGROUND: Exercise intolerance is a common finding in heart failure that
generates a vicious cycle in which the individual starts to limit his activities
even more due to progressive fatigue. Regular physical exercise can increase the
cardiopulmonary exercise capacity of these individuals. A new approach to
physical exercise, known as functional training, could improve the oxygen
consumption and quality of life of patients with heart failure; however, there is
no information about the effect of this modality of exercise in this patient
population. This randomized trial will compare the effects of 36 sessions of
functional training versus strength training in heart failure patients.
METHODS: This randomized parallel-design examiner-blinded clinical trial includes
individuals of both sexes aged ≥40 years receiving regular follow-up at a single
academic hospital. Subjects will be randomly allocated to an intervention group
(for 12-week functional training) or an active comparator group (for 12-week
strength training). The primary outcomes will be the difference from baseline to
the 3-month time point in peak oxygen consumption on cardiopulmonary exercise
testing and quality of life assessed by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure
Questionnaire. Secondary outcome measures will include functionality assessed by
the Duke Activity Status Index and gait speed test; peripheral and inspiratory
muscular strength, assessed by hand grip and manovacuometry testing,
respectively; endothelial function by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation;
lean body mass by arm muscle circumference; and participant adherence to the
exercise programs classified as a percentage of the prescribed exercise dose.
DISCUSSION: The functional training program aims to improve the functional
capacity of the individual using exercises that relate to his specific physical
activity transferring gains effectively to one’s daily life. In this context, we
believe that that functional training can increase the cardiopulmonary exercise
capacity and quality of life of patients with heart failure. The trial has been
recruiting patients since October 2017.