Impact of Doppler-derived left ventricular diastolic performance on exercise capacity in normal individuals

Doppler-derived left ventricular (LV) diastolic indexes have been shown to correlate with exercise capacity in patients with heart diseases as well as healthy individuals. However, it is uncertain whether they predict exercise capacity independent of noncardiac factors.

To clarify the impact of the LV diastolic index on exercise capacity, 160 healthy individuals were investigated. All underwent Bruce protocol treadmill stress testing and 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. Estimated metabolic equivalent was calculated from exercise time (metabolic equivalent = 1.11 + 0.016 x exercise time). Diastolic performance was assessed by Doppler transmitral flow velocity pattern. Pulmonary function tests and complete blood cell count were also performed.

LV diastolic indexes correlated well with metabolic equivalent (peak transmitral filling velocity (A): r = -0.51, P <.0001; ratio of early and late transmitral filling velocities (E/A): r = 0.58, P <. 0001). However, there was no significant correlation between LV systolic indexes and metabolic equivalent. Independent predictors for a higher metabolic equivalent by multivariate analysis were higher E/A (P <.0001), higher vital capacity (P =.001), smaller body mass index (P =.0003), younger age (P =.0050), and higher hemoglobin concentration (P =.0026).

Doppler-derived LV diastolic index may help in predicting exercise capacity in normal individuals independent of other cardiac and extracardiac factors.