Category Archives: Abstracts

The importance of right ventricular function in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Badagliacca R; Papa S; Poscia R; Pezzuto B; Manzi G; Torre R; Fedele F; Vizza CD;

Expert Review Of Respiratory Medicine [Expert Rev Respir Med] 2018 Sep 06, pp. 1-7. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Sep 06.

Introduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive, life-threatening, and incurable disease. Its prognosis is based on right ventricular (RV) function. Therefore, adequate assessment of RV function is mandatory. Areas covered: This article presents the case of a patient with PAH in which the traditional diagnostic approach did not provide a complete assessment of RV function. The authors show how the analysis of other parameters yielded additional information that improved the management of this patient. Expert commentary: Despite current treatments, PAH often worsens due to progressive RV dysfunction. Appropriate assessment of RV function may facilitate the early identification of patients at risk of RV function impairment. More aggressive treatment of PAH might delay progression of the disease. Traditional risk stratification, which is based on New York Heart Association/World Health Organization (NYHA/WHO) functional class evaluation, the 6-minute walk test, and right heart catheterization, proves insufficient in many PAH patients, as it does not provide complete information about RV function. Thus, further parameters are required. Analysis of RV function, in addition to echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing, may add relevant prognostic information and improve therapy.

Step oximetry test: a validation study.

Fox BD; Sheffy N; Vainshelboim B; Fuks L; Kramer MR;

BMJ Open Respiratory Research [BMJ Open Respir Res] 2018 Aug 03; Vol. 5 (1), pp. e000320. Date of Electronic Publication: 20180803 (Print Publication: 2018).

Introduction: Step climbing is a potentially useful modality for testing exercise capacity. However, there are significant variations between test protocols and lack of consistent validation against gold standard cycle ergometry cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). The purpose of the study was to validate a novel technique of exercise testing using a dedicated device.
Methods: We built a step oximetry device from an adapted aerobics step and pulse oximeter connected to a computer. Subjects performed lung function tests, a standard incremental cycle CPET and also a CPET while stepping on and off the step oximetry device to maximal exertion. Data from the step oximetry device were processed and correlated with standard measurements of pulmonary function and cycle CPET.
Results: We recruited 89 subjects (57 years, 50 men). Oxygen uptake (VO2) was 0.9 mL/kg/min (95% CI -3.6 to 5.4) higher in the step test compared with the gold standard cycle CPET, p<0.001. VO2 in the two techniques was highly correlated (R=0.87, p<0.001). Work rate during stair climbing showed the best correlation with VO2 (R=0.69, p<0.0001). Desaturation during step climbing correlated negatively with diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (r=-0.43, p<0.005). No adverse events occurred.
Conclusions: The step oximetry test was a maximal test of exertion in the subjects studied, achieving slightly higher VO2 than during the standard test. The test was safe to perform and well tolerated by the patients. Parameters derived from the step oximetry device correlated well with gold standard measurements. The step oximetry test could become a useful and standardisable exercise test for clinical settings where advanced testing is not available or appropriate.

Feasibility of a home-based exercise intervention with remote guidance for patients with stable grade II and III gliomas: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Gehring K, Kloek CJ, Aaronson NK, Janssen KW, Jones LW,
Sitskoorn MM, Stuiver MM

Clin Rehabil. 2018 Mar;32(3):352-366. doi: 10.1177/0269215517728326. Epub 2017
Sep 8.

OBJECTIVE: In this pilot study, we investigated the feasibility of a home-based,
remotely guided exercise intervention for patients with gliomas.
DESIGN: Pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with randomization (2:1) to
exercise or control group.
SUBJECTS: Patients with stable grade II and III gliomas.
INTERVENTION: The six-month intervention included three home-based exercise
sessions per week at 60%-85% of maximum heart rate. Participants wore heart rate
monitors connected to an online platform to record activities that were monitored
weekly by the physiotherapist.
MAIN MEASURES: Accrual, attrition, adherence, safety, satisfaction,
patient-reported physical activity, VO2 peak (by maximal cardiopulmonary exercise
testing) and body mass index (BMI) at baseline and at six-month follow-up.
RESULTS: In all, 34 of 136 eligible patients (25%) were randomized to exercise
training ( N = 23) or the control group ( N = 11), of whom 19 and 9,
respectively, underwent follow-up. Mean adherence to prescribed sessions was 79%.
Patients’ experiences were positive. There were no adverse events. Compared to
the control group, the exercise group showed larger improvements in absolute VO2
peak (+158.9 mL/min; 95% CI: -44.8 to 362.5) and BMI (-0.3 kg/m²; 95% CI: -0.9 to
0.2). The median increase in physical activity was 1489 metabolic equivalent of
task (MET) minutes higher in the exercise group. The most reported reasons for
non-participation were lack of motivation or time.
CONCLUSION: This innovative and intensive home-based exercise intervention was
feasible in a small subset of patients with stable gliomas who were interested in
exercising. The observed effects suggest that the programme may improve
cardiorespiratory fitness. These results support the need for large-scale trials
of exercise interventions in brain tumour patients.

The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Cardiopulmonary Function: Analyzing VO2 Recovery Kinetics.

Remígio MI; Santa Cruz F; Ferraz Á; Remígio MC; Parente G; Nascimento I; Brandão D; Dornelas de Andrade AF;
de Moraes Neto F; Campos J;

Obesity Surgery [Obes Surg] 2018 Aug 15. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Aug 15.

Purpose: To assess cardiopulmonary capacity, autonomic heart function, and oxygen recovery kinetics during exercise testing before and after bariatric surgery.
Methods: This is a prospective cohort study. Symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed with 24 patients, 1 week before and 4 months after bariatric surgery. The main variables were maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max), the time elapsed until the appearance of the first ventilatory threshold (TLV1), and VO2 oxygen kinetics during recovery with a 50% reduction in peak oxygen uptake in the recovery period after exercise (50%VO2RP).
Results: The study demonstrated that the peak VO2\kg increased significantly after bariatric surgery. When analyzed without adjusting for weight, the peak VO2 paradoxically and significantly decreased after the surgical procedure (p = 0.007). The exercise time until the anaerobic threshold was longer after surgical procedure than before it (p = 0.001). Regarding post-exercise oxygen recovery kinetics, there was a faster reduction in the peak oxygen uptake after bariatric surgery than before the procedure (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: There was an obvious cardiac autonomic improvement after surgery. Despite the improvement in exercise tolerance, patients undergoing bariatric surgery had lower maximum oxygen consumption in the analysis not corrected for body weight. The mean VO2RP before bariatric surgery was 141 s and was 111 s after the surgical procedure (p < 0.001). These results suggest an improvement in the recovery kinetics of oxygen consumption, a novel index of cardiac reserve capacity, on patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Early Markers of Cardiovascular Risk in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Lai S, Mastroluca D, Matino S, Panebianco V, Vitarelli A,
Capotosto L, Turinese I, Marinelli P, Rossetti M, Galani A,
Baiocchi P, D’Angelo AR, Palange P.

Kidney Blood Press Res. 2017;42(6):1290-1302. doi: 10.1159/000486011. Epub 2017
Dec 15.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cardiovascular disease is the most frequent cause of morbidity
and mortality in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients,
often before the onset of renal failure, and the pathogenetic mechanism is not
yet well elucidated. The aim of the study was to identify early and noninvasive
markers of cardiovascular risk in young ADPKD patients, in the early stages of
disease.
METHODS: A total of 26 patients with ADPKD and 24 control group, matched for age
and sex, were enrolled, and we have assessed inflammatory indexes, mineral
metabolism, metabolic state and markers of atherosclerosis and endothelial
dysfunction (carotid intima media thickness (IMT), ankle brachial index (ABI),
flow mediated dilation (FMD), renal resistive index (RRI), left ventricular mass
index (LVMI)) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), maximal O2 uptake
(V’O2max), and O2 uptake at lactic acid threshold (V’O2@LT).
RESULTS: The ADPKD patients compared to control group, showed a significant
higher mean value of LVMI, RRI, homocysteine (Hcy), Homeostasis Model
Assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), serum uric acid (SUA), Cardiac-troponinT
(cTnT) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001,
p<0.001, p=0.007, p=0.019; respectively), and a lower value of FMD and
25-hydroxyvitaminD (25-OH-VitD) (p<0.001, p<0.001) with reduced parameters of
exercise tolerance, as V’O2max, V’O2max/Kg and V’O2max (% predicted) (p<0.001,
p<0.001, p=0.018; respectively), and metabolic response indexes (V’O2@LT, V’O2
@LT%, V’O2@LT/Kg,) (p<0.001, p=0.14, p<0.001; respectively). Moreover,
inflammatory indexes were significantly higher in ADPKD patients, and we found a
positive correlation between HOMA-IR and C-reactive protein (CRP) (r=0.507,
p=0.008), and a negative correlation between HOMA-IR and 25-OH-VitD (r=-0.585,
p=0.002).
CONCLUSION: In our study, ADPKD patients, in the early stages of disease, showed
a greater insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and mineral
metabolism disorders, respect to control group. Moreover, these patients
presented reduced tolerance to stress, and decreased anaerobic threshold to CPET.
Our results indicate a major and early cardiovascular risk in ADPKD patients.
Therefore early and noninvasive markers of cardiovascular risk and CPET should be
carried out, in ADPKD patients, in the early stages of disease, despite the cost
implication.

Dose-dependent efficacy of β-blocker in patients with chronic heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

Campodonico J; Piepoli M; Clemenza F; Bonomi A; Paolillo S; Salvioni E; Corrà U; Binno S; Veglia F; Lagioia R; Sinagra G; Cattadori G; Scardovi AB; Metra M; Senni M; Scrutinio D; Raimondo R; Emdin M; Magrì D; Parati G; Re F;Cicoira M; Minà C; Limongelli G; Correale M; Frigerio M; Bussotti M; Perna E; Battaia E; Guazzi M; Badagliacca R; DiLenarda A; Maggioni A; Passino C; Sciomer S; Pacileo G; Mapelli M; Vignati C; Lombardi C; Filardi PP; Agostoni P;

International Journal Of Cardiology [Int J Cardiol] 2018 Aug 06. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Aug 06.

Background: The usefulness of β-blockers in heart failure (HF) patients with permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) has been questioned.
Methods and Results: We analyzed data from HF patients (958 patients (801 males, 84%, age 67 ± 11 years)) with AF enrolled in the MECKI score database. We evaluated prognosis (composite of cardiovascular death, urgent heart transplant, or left ventricular assist device) of patients receiving β-blockers (n = 777, 81%) vs. those not treated with β-blockers (n = 181, 19%). We also analyzed the role β1-selectivity and the role of daily β-blocker dose. To account for different HF severity, Kaplan-Meier survival curves were normalized for relevant confounding factors and for treatment strategies. Dose was available in 629 patients. Median follow-up was 1312 (577-2304) days in the entire population, 1203 (614-2420) and 1325 (569-2300) days in patients not receiving and receiving β-blockers. 224 (23%, 54/1000 events/year), 163 (21%, 79/1000 events/year), and 61 (34%, 49/1000 events/year) events were recorded, respectively. At 10-year patients treated with β-blockers had a better outcome (HR 0.447, p < 0.01) with no effects as regards β1selective drugs (53%) vs. β1-β2 blockers (47%). Survival improved in parallel with β-blocker dose increase (HR 0.296, 0.496, 0.490 for the high, medium, and low dose vs. no β-blockers, p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: HF patients with AF taking a β-blocker have a better outcome (with a survival improvement in parallel with daily dose but no differences as regards β1 selectivity) but this does not mean that β-blockers improve outcomes in these patients as we cannot control for all the potential confounders associated with β-blocker use.

French Society of Cardiology guidelines on exercise tests (part 2): Indications for exercise tests in cardiac diseases.

Marcadet DM; Pavy B; Bosser G; Claudot F; Corone S; Douard H; Iliou MC; Amedro P; Le Tourneau T; Cueff C; Avedian T; Solal AC; Carré F;

Archives Of Cardiovascular Diseases [Arch Cardiovasc Dis] 2018 Aug 06. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Aug 06.

The exercise test is performed routinely in cardiology; its main indication is the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia, evaluated along with the subject’s pretest probability and cardiovascular risk level. Other criteria, such as analysis of repolarization, must be taken into consideration during the interpretation of an exercise test, to improve its predictive value. An exercise test is also indicated for many other cardiac diseases (e.g. rhythm and conduction disorders, severe asymptomatic aortic stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, peripheral artery disease, hypertension). Moreover, an exercise test may be indicated for specific populations (women, the elderly, patients with diabetes mellitus, patients in a preoperative context, asymptomatic patients and patients with congenital heart defects). Some cardiac diseases (such as chronic heart failure or arterial pulmonary hypertension) require a cardiopulmonary exercise test. Finally, an exercise test or a cardiopulmonary exercise test is indicated to prescribe a cardiac rehabilitation programme, adapted to the patient.

French Society of Cardiology guidelines on exercise tests (part 1): Methods and interpretation.

Marcadet DM; Pavy B; Bosser G; Claudot F; Corone S; Douard H; Iliou MC; Vergès-Patois B; Amedro P; Le Tourneau T; Cueff C; Avedian T; Solal AC; Carré F;

Archives Of Cardiovascular Diseases [Arch Cardiovasc Dis] 2018 Aug 06. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Aug 06.

The exercise test is still a key examination in cardiology, used for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia, as well as for the clinical evaluation of other heart diseases. The cardiopulmonary exercise test can further define functional capacity and prognosis for any given cardiac pathology. These new guidelines focus on methods, interpretation and indications for an exercise test or cardiopulmonary exercise test, as summarized below. The safety rules associated with the exercise test must be strictly observed. Interpretation of exercise tests and cardiopulmonary exercise tests must be multivariable. Functional capacity is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events. Chest pain, ST-segment changes and an abnormal ST/heart rate index constitute the first findings in favor of myocardial ischemia, mostly related to significant coronary artery disease. Chronotropic incompetence, abnormal heart rate recovery, QRS changes (such as enlargement or axial deviations) and the use of scores (based on the presence of various risk factors) must also be considered in exercise test interpretation for a coronary artery disease diagnosis. Arrhythmias or conduction disorders arising during the exercise test must be considered in the assessment of prognosis, in addition to a decrease or low increase in blood pressure during the exercise phase. When performing a cardiopulmonary exercise test, peak oxygen uptake and the volume of expired gas/carbon dioxide output slope are the two main variables used to evaluate prognosis.  [PART 2 FOLLOWS]

Peak Ventilation Reference Standards from Exercise Testing: From the FRIEND Registry.

Kaminsky LA; Harber MP; Imboden MT; Arena R; Myers J;

Medicine And Science In Sports And Exercise [Med Sci Sports Exerc] 2018 Aug 07. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Aug 07.

Purpose: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) provides valuable clinical information, including peak ventilation (VEpeak), which has been shown to have diagnostic and prognostic value in the assessment of patients with underlying pulmonary disease. This report provides reference standards for VEpeak derived from CPX on treadmills in apparently healthy individuals.
Methods: Nine laboratories in the United States experienced in CPX administration with established quality control procedures contributed to the Fitness Registry and the Importance of Exercise National Database from 2014 to 2017. Data from 5232 maximal exercise tests from men and women without cardiovascular or pulmonary disease were used to create percentiles of VEpeak for both men and women by decade between 20-79 years. Additionally, prediction equations were developed for VEpeak using descriptive information.
Results: VEpeak was found to be significantly different between men and women and across age groups (p<0.05). The rate of decline in VEpeak was 8.0%/decade for both men and women. A stepwise regression model of 70% of the sample revealed sex, age, and height were significant predictors of VEpeak. The equation was cross-validated with data from the remaining 30% of the sample with a final equation developed from the full sample (r=0.73). Additionally, a linear regression model revealed forced expiratory volume in one second significantly predicted VEpeak (r=0.73).
Conclusions: Reference standards were developed for VEpeak for the United States population. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing laboratories will be able to provide interpretation of VEpeak from these age and sex specific percentile reference values or alternatively can use these non-exercise prediction equations incorporating sex, age, and height or with a single predictor of forced expiratory volume in one second.

Current challenges in managing comorbid heart failure and COPD.

Neder JA; Rocha A; Arbex F; Berton DC; Faria M; Sperandio PA; Nery LE; O’Donnell DE;

Expert Review Of Cardiovascular Therapy [Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther] 2018 Aug 13. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Aug 13.

Introduction: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently coexist, particularly in the elderly. Given their rising prevalence and the contemporary trend to longer life expectancy, overlapping HF-COPD will become a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the next decade. Areas covered: Drawing on current clinical and physiological constructs, the consequences of negative cardiopulmonary interactions on the interpretation of pulmonary function and cardiopulmonary exercise tests in HF-COPD are discussed. Although those interactions may create challenges for the diagnosis and assessment of disease stability, they provide a valuable conceptual framework to rationalize HF-COPD treatment. The impact of COPD or HF on the pharmacological treatment of HF or COPD, respectively, is then comprehensively discussed. Authors finalize by outlining how the non-pharmacological treatment (i.e. rehabilitation and exercise reconditioning) can be tailored to the specific needs of patients with HF-COPD. Expert commentary: Randomized clinical trials testing the efficacy and safety of new medications for HF or COPD should include a sizeable fraction of patients with these coexistent pathologies. Multidisciplinary clinics involving cardiologists and respirologists trained in both diseases (with access to unified cardiorespiratory rehabilitation programs) are paramount to decrease the humanitarian and social burden of HF-COPD.