Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Interpretation in Athletes: What the Cardiologist Should Know.

Husaini M; Emery MS;

Cardiology clinics [Cardiol Clin] 2023 Feb; Vol. 41 (1), pp. 71-80.
Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Oct 21.

The noninvasive assessment of oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and ventilation during a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) provides insight into the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic system’s ability to respond to exercise. Exercise physiology has been shown to be distinct for competitive athletes and highly active persons (CAHAPs), thus creating more nuanced interpretations of CPET parameters. CPET in CAHAP is an important test that can be used for both diagnosis (provoking symptoms during a truly maximal test) and performance.