© 2007 European Society of Cardiology
Response of the oxygen uptake efficiency slope to exercise training in patients with chronic heart failure
a Department of Physiotherapy, Artevelde Institute of Higher Education Ghent, Belgium
b Cardiovascular Center, Onze Lieve Vrouw Hospital Aalst, Belgium
c Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, University Hospital Ghent, Belgium
d Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Ghent, Belgium
e Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, University Ghent, Belgium
* Corresponding author. University Hospital Gent, 1K4, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Tel: +32 9 240 69 24; fax: +32 9 240 38 11. E-mail address: christophe.vanlaethem{at}arteveldehs.be
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Abstract |
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Background: The oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) is a new exercise parameter that provides prognostic power in patients with CHF. Little is known about the effects of exercise training (ET) on OUES.
Aim: To describe the response of OUES to 6 months of ET in CHF patients and compare its evolution to that of other exercise variables.
Methods: 35 patients with CHF (NYHA II–III, age 54±9y, LVEF 31±10%) performed 3 maximal exercise tests, i.e. at the start, middle and end of a 6 month ET program. OUES, PeakVO2, ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) and slope VE/VCO2 were determined.
Results: OUES, peakVO2, VAT, slope VE/VCO2, peak Watt, 6MWT and NYHA-class improved during the first part of the ET period (p<0.05). Only VAT, peak Watt and 6MWT continued to improve during the second part of the ET period (p>0.05) Improvements in OUES correlated better with improvements in peakVO2 (r=0.77, p<0.001), than changes in other prognostic variables.
Discussion: OUES improves significantly after 6 months of ET. Changes in peakVO2 correlate best with changes in OUES. OUES is sensitive to ET and can be used to evaluate the progression of exercise capacity in CHF patients.
Key Words: Exercise training • Heart failure • Ventilation
Received April 14, 2006; Revised October 24, 2006; Accepted January 18, 2007
1 Nico Van de Veire is a research assistant and Johan De Sutter a senior clinical investigator of the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (Belgium).
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