Related Experiment Videos
Rate response during submaximal exercise: comparison of three different sensors
M Zegelman1, G Cieslinski, J Kreuzer
1Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt/Main, FRG.
Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE
|November 1, 1988
Summary
This study evaluated rate-responsive pacemakers using Kaltenbach's step test. Activitrax and DDD pacemakers demonstrated optimal rate adaptation for daily activities, unlike QT-related pacemakers.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Rate-responsive pacemakers (RRPMs) aim to mimic physiological heart rate adjustments during daily activities.
- Clinical follow-up of RRPMs requires effective methods to assess rate adaptation, particularly for elderly patients.
- Kaltenbach's step test provides a reliable simulation of everyday physical exertion for pacemaker evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the rate-adaptive performance of different types of pacemakers during simulated daily activities.
- To compare the efficacy of QT-related, respiratory-dependent (RDP), body-activity-directed (Activitrax), and DDD pacemakers using Kaltenbach's step test.
Main Methods:
- Nineteen patients with QT-related pacemakers, 12 with RDP pacemakers, and 45 with Activitrax pacemakers underwent Kaltenbach's step test.
- Forty-two patients with DDD pacemakers were also tested using the same protocol.
- Heart rate response curves were analyzed against age and sex-dependent normal ranges during submaximal exercise and recovery.
Main Results:
- Activitrax and DDD pacemakers showed heart rate curves settling precisely within the desirable range, with no rate response issues during repeated exercise.
- QT-related pacemakers exhibited distorted heart rate curves, with only 42% reaching the normal range across all test rounds.
- The RDP group's mean heart rate bordered the lower limit of the normal range, indicating less optimal adaptation compared to Activitrax and DDD.
Conclusions:
- Activitrax and DDD pacemakers demonstrate superior rate-adaptive performance, effectively meeting the physiological demands of daily life for pacemaker patients.
- QT-related pacemakers show limitations in rate adaptation during exercise, suggesting potential challenges in meeting daily activity requirements.
- Kaltenbach's step test is a valuable tool for assessing the functional efficacy of various rate-responsive pacemaker technologies.