Prognostic value of simple exercise test parameters in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

The prognostic value of maximal exercise capacity as well as that of the simple exercise systolic blood pressure and heart rate variables were evaluated in 50 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Patients were treated beside digitalis and/or diuretics with vasodilators aggressively. Exercise was performed on an upright bicycle ergometer. Continuous, multistage, symptom limited, maximal tests were carried out. Patients were followed up for 23.5 +/- 15.2 months. Both one-way and multivariate analyses of data showed, that not only the maximal exercise capacity related significantly to the survival, but the several simple systolic blood pressure and heart rate variables (their values at peak exercise and their increase during the test) did so as well. Considering parameters separately, maximal exercise capacity was found the strongest predictor of survival, though the power of the calculated rate-pressure product at peak exercise, that of the systolic blood pressure at peak exercise as well as that of the increase in heart rate during the test proved nearly as strong as the maximal exercise capacity did. Anyway, the multivariate analysis showed that the former parameters were dependent on maximal exercise capacity. Some parameters with individual prognostic value proved independent from each other. Combined consideration of the systolic blood pressure at peak exercise and the increase of heart rate during exercise resulted in the highest predictive power which exceeded even the power of maximal exercise capacity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)