[Cardiopulmonary stress test--interpretation and clinical indications]

A recent report in Harefuah has introduced cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX), presenting its physiological basis and key parameters. Despite the fact that multiple guideline documents and scientific statements have been published in the last few years by the leading European and American societies summarizing the incremental information added by the addition of ventilatory gas exchange measurements, CPX continues to be underutilized by the practicing clinician. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of understanding of the value of CPX by the practicing clinicians. In this review we will describe the current clinical and emerging applications of CPX, and try to simplify interpretation and reporting of CPX test data. We will also review CPX findings in selected clinical populations and the implication of these observations to the clinical evaluation of patients with heart and/ or lung diseases.