Hypotension rather than hypertension is more correlated with lower exercise capacity in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Background: Exercise Capacity has been reported as an important prognostic marker in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We evaluated the relationship of resting systolic blood pressure (rSBP) with cardiopulmonary exercise parameters in patients with idiopathic DCM and control subjects. Methods: We consecutively enrolled 44 idiopathic DCM patients (28 males, 51±11 years, mean LVEF=29%) and 70 control subjects without medical history (31 males, 51±11 years, mean LVEF=67%). We classified all study population into 3 groups according to rSBP (hypotensive: ∼110, normotensive 111∼140, hypertensive, 141∼) Results: Hypotensive group had significantly lower percent achieved of peak oxygen uptake than normotensive or hypertensive groups in idiopathic DCM (67.8 vs. 86.6 vs 90.5%, p=0.004). On the other hand, hypertensive group had lowest exercise capacity in controls (96.5 vs. 96.6 vs. 84.3%, p=0.36). Pearson Correlation demonstrated that rSBP had significant correlation with percent achieved of pVO2 in patients with idiopathic DCM (r=0.513, p<0.001), but not in control (r=-0.035, p=0.772). Multivariate analysis revealed that resting SBP was an independent predictor of percent achieved of pVO2 in idiopathic DCM group after controlling age, gender, BMI and renal function, increment of SBP during exercise. ![Figure][1] Exercise Capacity according to SBP Conclusions: Hypotension rather than hypertension is more correlated with lower exercise capacity in idiopathic DCM. [1]: pending:yes