[Recommendations for the implementation and documentation of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in adults]

As an integrative exercise test of the pulmonary-cardiovascular-muscular system, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) represents the gold standard for assessing exercise capacity and exertional dyspnea. Surprisingly, there are currently no recommendations on the standardised performance of CPET published in medical journals in Germany. This paper aims to address this issue by providing interdisciplinary recommendations on the preparation, implementation and documentation of CPET in adults. This manual outlines the latest best practice guidance from current literature and guideline recommendations for medical and non-medical personnel. All the key steps for preparation, conduct and follow-up are presented in a structured and practical manner. An additional chapter contains recommendations for a uniform basic setting of the CPET software and for automated reporting. The aim of this document is to help achieve as uniform a procedure as possible for performing CPET in order to improve comparability, time expenditure, quality and thus also acceptance of the test and to adapt it to currently valid standards. Mnemonics and practical tips, flowcharts and tables facilitate rapid application in everyday clinical practice.