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Complications of the cardiopulmonary stress test in patients with depressed left ventricular systolic function

Ana T Timóteo1, Miguel Mendes, Carlos T Aguiar

  • 1Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santa Cruz, Camaxide, Portugal. ana_timoteo@yahoo.com

Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia : Orgao Oficial Da Sociedade Portuguesa De Cardiologia = Portuguese Journal of Cardiology : an Official Journal of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology
|March 1, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Cardiopulmonary stress tests (CPX) carry a low complication risk (around 4%) in chronic heart failure patients, though higher than in those with normal function. These tests should be medically supervised in a hospital setting.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Exercise Physiology

Background:

  • Exercise testing generally has low complication risks.
  • Theoretical concerns suggest higher risks for chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess complications during cardiopulmonary stress tests (CPX) in patients with reduced left ventricular systolic function.
  • Compare CPX complication rates between patients with depressed and normal left ventricular function.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 334 CPX in patients with ejection fraction <40% (Group A) and 180 CPX in individuals with normal function (Group B).
  • Comparison of demographic data, CPX parameters, and specific complications between groups.

Main Results:

  • Major complications occurred in 4.2% of Group A patients (p = 0.012).
  • Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia was more frequent in Group A.
  • Absence of coronary artery disease independently predicted complications.

Conclusions:

  • Major CPX complications were confined to patients with impaired left ventricular systolic function.
  • CPX in heart failure patients presents a low but significantly higher complication risk than in normal function groups.
  • CPX for heart failure patients is recommended in a hospital setting with physician supervision.
Abstract

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