Ozemek C;  University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA.
Hardwick J; Bonikowske A; Christle J;German C; Reddy S; Arena R;Faghy M;

Progress in cardiovascular diseases [Prog Cardiovasc Dis] 2024 Feb 26.
Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Feb 26.

Graded exercise testing is a widely accepted tool for revealing cardiac ischemia and/or arrhythmias in clinical settings. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) measures expired gases during a graded exercise test making it a versatile tool that helps reveal underlying physiologic abnormalities that are in many cases only present with exertion. It also characterizes one’s health status and clinical trajectory, informs the therapeutic plan, evaluates the efficacy of therapy, and provides submaximal and maximal information that can be used to tailor an exercise intervention. Practitioners can also modify the mode and protocol to allow individuals of all ages, fitness levels, and most disease states to perform a CPET. When used to its full potential, CPET can be a key tool used to optimize care in primary and secondary prevention settings.