Authors

1. Kadariya, Dinesh MD
2. Canada, Justin M. PhD
3. Del Buono, Marco Giuseppe MD
4. van Wezenbeek, Jessie MS
5. Tchoukina, Inna MD
6. Arena, Ross PhD
7. Van Tassell, Benjamin PharmD
8. Abbate, Antonio MD, PhD

Abstract

Purpose: Peak oxygen uptake recovery delay (V[spacing dot above]o₂peakRD), measured as the time until post-exercise oxygen uptake (V[spacing dot above]o₂) decreases below V[spacing dot above]o₂peak following maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX), has been recognized as an abnormal response, associated with reduced cardiac output reserve during exercise in patients with heart failure (HF). In the current study we examined the association of V[spacing dot above]o₂peakRD during routine CPX testing of patients with symptomatic HF across a wide range of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) values with clinical biomarkers.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 80 clinically stable symptomatic HF patients across a wide range of LVEF at our institution were evaluated that put forth a minimally acceptable effort during CPX testing (respiratory exchange ratio >= 1.00). The V[spacing dot above]o₂peakRD was measured in 10-sec intervals following maximal CPX testing. Markers of elevated cardiac filling pressures (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide [NTproBNP] and echocardio-Doppler E/e') and other key CPX parameters were explored for their association with V[spacing dot above]o₂peakRD.

Results: The mean V[spacing dot above]o₂peakRD and V[spacing dot above]o₂peak were 10 (interquartile range 10, 40) sec and 13.9 (11.6, 16.4) mL[middle dot] kg^-1 [middle dot] min^-1, respectively. V[spacing dot above]o₂peakRD demonstrated a positive linear trend with serum NTproBNP levels and E/e' (T_JT = 1239.500, z = 2.634, P < .01; T_JT = 1081.000, z = 2.046, P = .04, respectively).

Conclusion: Prolonged V[spacing dot above]o₂peakRD following exercise is associated with markers of greater disease severity in patients with HF.