A subanalysis of the EURO-EX trial

Guazzi, Marco; Arena, Ross; Pellegrino, Marta; Bandera, Francesco; Generati, Greta; Labate,
Valentina; Alfonzetti, Eleonora; Villani, Simona; Gaeta, Maddalena M;
Halle, Martin; Haslbauer, Robert; Phillips, Shane A; Cahalin, Lawrence
P.

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology,
February 2016, Vol. 23 Issue: Number 3 p328-334, 7p;

Abstract: Introduction  There has been a
greater appreciation of several variables obtained by cardiopulmonary
exercise testing (CPX). Exercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV) is a CPX
pattern that has gained recognition as an ominous marker of poor
prognosis in cardiac patients. The purpose of the present study is to
characterize whether such an abnormal ventilatory pattern may also be
detected in apparently healthy subjects and determine its clinical
significance.

Methods  The study involved 510 subjects (mean age 60 ± 14
years; 49% male) with a broad cardiovascular (CV) risk factor profile
who underwent CPX.Results  The population was divided into two groups
according to the presence (17%) or absence of EOV. Subjects with EOV
were significantly older and a higher percentage was female. Risk
factor profile and medication use was significantly different between
subgroups, indicating subjects with EOV had a worse CV risk factor
profile and were prescribed CV-focused preventive medications at a
significantly higher frequency. Subjects with EOV had comparatively
poorer CPX performance and gas exchange phenotype. Multivariate binary
logistic regression analysis found being female was the strongest
predictor of EOV (odds ratio: 2.77, 95% confidence interval (CI):
1.66-4.61, p< 0.001). A diagnosis of diabetes (odds ratio: 2.40, 95%
CI: 1.34–4.15.2, p< 0.001) added significant value for predicting EOV
and was retained in the regression. The likelihood for EOV for subjects
who were female and diagnosed with diabetes was 3.71 (95% CI 1.88–7.30,
p< 0.001).

Conclusions  This is the first study to examine EOV
prevalence and characterization in apparently healthy persons with
results supporting an in-depth definition of abnormal exercise
phenotypes.