Author:

Keywords:

Cardiac Output, Exercise, Heart Failure, Congestive, Humans, Kinetics, Oxygen Consumption, Respiratory Function Tests, Ventricular Dysfunction, Left, Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems, Cardiovascular System & Cardiology, exercise, heart failure, physiology, training, PULMONARY VASCULAR-RESISTANCE, MITRAL-VALVE REPLACEMENT, NITRIC-OXIDE, ANAEROBIC THRESHOLD, OXYGEN-UPTAKE, GAS-EXCHANGE, DIFFUSION ABNORMALITIES, VENTILATORY EFFICIENCY, LACTATE CONCENTRATION, INCREMENTAL EXERCISE, Heart Failure, Task Force of the Italian Working Group on Cardiac Rehabilitation Prevention, Working Group on Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology of the European Society of Cardiology, Cardiovascular System & Hematology

Abstract:

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) provides a global assessment of the integrated response to exercise involving the pulmonary, cardiovascular, haematopoietic, neuropsychological, and skeletal muscle systems. This information cannot be obtained through investigation of the individual organ systems in isolation. The non-invasive, dynamic physiological overview permits the evaluation of both submaximal and peak exercise responses, providing the physician with relevant information for clinical decision making. The use of CPET in management of the chronic heart failure patient is increasing with the understanding that resting pulmonary and cardiac function testing cannot reliably predict exercise performance and functional capacity and that, furthermore, overall health status and prognosis are predicted better by indices of exercise tolerance than by resting measurements. Our aim is to produce a statement which provides recommendations on the interpretation and clinical application of CPET in heart failure, based on contemporary scientific knowledge and technical advances: the focus is on clinical indications, issues of standardization, and interpretative strategies for CPET.