Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 14, 2026
Integration of Brain Tissue Saturation Monitoring in Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients with Heart Failure
Published on: October 1, 2019
Prognostic significance of cardiopulmonary exercise testing parameters for predicting all-cause mortality in patients
Christina Chrysohoou1, Mansimran Singh Dulay2, Christos Fragoulis1
1First Cardiology Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Background:
Heart failure (HF) remains a significant challenge in global healthcare, contributing to frequent hospitalizations and elevated mortality rates. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) provides a non-invasive method of assessing how the cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal systems function.
Objectives:
To evaluate whether CPET-derived measures predict all-cause mortality in patients with HF.
Methods:
A prospective cohort study involving 247 consecutive patients with HF (mean 57 (13) years, 71% males), was conducted; 170 (69%) patients were characterised as HFrEF and 77 (31%) patients as HFpEF (n=52) or HFmrEF (n = 25). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 36.4% (10.6), and 73 patients (29.5%) had an LVEF <35%. All patients underwent a CPET examination.
Results:
The median follow-up period was 3 years (range 1 to 9). All-cause mortality was 45 deaths out-of 247 patients (18.2%). After adjustments for age, sex, HF phenotype, presence of cardiomyopathy, and creatinine, NT-proBNP levels, only OUES remained an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in the entire cohort (Hazard Ratio 0.997, 95% Confidence Interval (0.996, 0.998); p=0.001), but not on those with submaximal CEPT. OUES below 1900 mL/min constitute a threshold associated with worse survival.
Conclusion:
Oxygen uptake-derived indices, particularly OUES, emerged as significant predictor of prognosis among patients with HF, regardless of LVEF, reflecting the overall efficiency of oxygen transport and utilization.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Exercise Stress Test
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
01:17Pathophysiology of Heart Failure
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:30Heart Failure IV: Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation
01:30Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...