Cardiovascular drugs: effects on exercise testing and exercise training of the coronary patient

The exercise test response and exercise capacity of patients with atherosclerotic coronary heart disease may be significantly altered by a number of commonly used cardiovascular drugs, alone or in combination, via complex interactions of hemodynamic and electrophysiologic changes. The clinician must assess the effects of pharmacotherapy when evaluating the results of exercise testing as well as when prescribing a rehabilitative exercise training regimen.