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European Journal of Heart Failure 2007 9(8):834-838; doi:10.1016/j.ejheart.2007.05.004
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© 2007 European Society of Cardiology

Biomechanical efficiency is impaired in patients with chronic heart failure{star}

Klaus K. Wittea,*, Wayne C. Levyb, Kenneth A. Lindsayc and Andrew L. Clarkd

a Department of Cardiology, Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street Leeds, LS1 3EX, UK
b University of Washington Seattle, USA
c Department of Mathematics, Glasgow University UK
d Department of Cardiology, University of Hull UK

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 113 3926000; fax: +44 113 2787206 E-mail address: klauswitte{at}hotmail.com.


  Abstract

Introduction: Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) have a lower peak oxygen consumption (pVO2) than normal subjects, and for a given quantity of work, have a lower total oxygen consumption (VO2) than controls. This apparent increase in biomechanical efficiency (BE) might be due to a higher proportion of anaerobic metabolism which, although leading to lower VO2 during steady state exercise, must be compensated for during recovery.

Methods: 13 patients with stable CHF and 12 controls underwent peak cycle exercise testing followed by three separate steady state exercise tests at 15%, 25% and 50% of the peak workload in random order. Oxygen consumption at steady state, deficit (during onset) and debt (during recovery) were calculated. BE was estimated as the total oxygen required to perform a given quantity of work.

Results: Patients had lower pVO2 and peak workload than control subjects. Absolute oxygen deficit and debt as a percentage of total oxygen consumed during the steady state tests was the same in both groups. However, once controlled for workload, VO2 deficit, debt and uptake at steady state were greater in patients than controls for the tests at 15% and 25% of peak. BE was inversely related to peak oxygen consumption in controls and patients.

Conclusions: Patients with CHF have impaired BE at low work loads when compared with normal subjects.

Key Words: Oxygen consumption • Exercise capacity • Heart failure

Received October 26, 2006; Revised February 24, 2007; Accepted May 3, 2007

{star} Financial support: Dr. Witte has received educational funding from Guidant (Canada) and Medtronic (UK).


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 Eur J Heart FailHome page
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