Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether a rating of perceived exertion scale (RPE) obtained during submaximal exercise could be used to predict peak exercise capacity (METpeak) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Angiographically documented CAD patients (n = 124, 87% on β blockade) completed a symptom-limited peak exercise test on a bicycle ergometer, reporting RPE values at every second load on a scale of 6–20. Regression analysis was used to develop equations for predicting METpeak. We found that submaximal METs at a workload of 60/75 W (for women and men, respectively) and the corresponding RPE (METs/RPE ratio) was the most powerful predictor of METpeak (r = 0.67, p < 0.0001). The final model included the submaximal METs/RPE ratio, body mass index (BMI), sex, resting heart rate, smoking history, age, and use of a β blockade (r = 0.86, p < 0.0001, SEE 0.98 METs). These data suggest that RPE at submaximal exercise intensity is related to METpeak in CAD patients. The model based on easily measured variables at rest and during “warm-up” exercise can reasonably predict absolute METpeak in patients with CAD.
Highlights
A large volume of data confirms the inverse dose–response relationship between peak exercise capacity (METpeak) and allcause mortality in both male and female coronary artery disease (CAD) patients irrespective of the use of β-blocking medication (Kavanagh et al, 2002, 2003), including patients with a history of myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and chronic heart failure (Perk et al, 2012)
Being able to measure METpeak by the “golden standard” method of a direct incremental symptom-limited peak exercise test, it may not be feasible in everyday clinical settings for rehabilitation or in assessment of functional capacity in CAD patients
The purpose of this study was firstly to develop an equation for predicting METpeak using assessment of rating of perceived exertion scale (RPE) during submaximal exercise in CAD patients, and secondly to validate the developed model and estimate the reproducibility of the model in an independent sample of CAD patients
Summary
A large volume of data confirms the inverse dose–response relationship between peak exercise capacity (METpeak) and allcause mortality in both male and female coronary artery disease (CAD) patients irrespective of the use of β-blocking medication (Kavanagh et al, 2002, 2003), including patients with a history of myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and chronic heart failure (Perk et al, 2012). Being able to measure METpeak by the “golden standard” method of a direct incremental symptom-limited peak exercise test, it may not be feasible in everyday clinical settings for rehabilitation or in assessment of functional capacity in CAD patients. (Astrand and Ryhming, 1954; WHO, 1968) These tests are able to predict METpeak in healthy subjects but not in CAD patients due to the use of medication, β blockades. Accurate predictive estimates for METpeak in CAD patients are warranted
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