RPE RESPONSE IN PERSANTINE PHARMACOLOGICAL STRESS TESTING

Abstract

PURPOSE Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) has been used in exercise stress tests and exercise sessions for many years. However, its use during pharmacological stress testing has been non-existent. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to establish if a significant RPE response occurs during pharmacological stress testing. A secondary purpose was to see if an RPE scale with centrally focused verbal cues exhibited comparable responses to the standard Borg 6–20 scale. METHODS Eighteen subjects (10 males, 8 females; average age 65 ± 10 yrs) referred for a Persantine pharmacological stress test volunteered to participate and gave signed consent. Each subject completed a standard 8 min Persantine protocol. At the end of each 2 minute interval, HR, and RPE's from two different scales were recorded. One was the standard Borg 6–20, and the second was a Modified Borg 6–20 using centrally focused verbal cues. The order in which each RPE scale was presented was randomly assigned by subject. HR's and RPE's over time (stages of test), as well as the interaction of RPE scale over time were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures with significance set at α=0.05. RESULTS With Persantine classified as a vasodilator and not possessing any sympathomimetic properties, surprisingly, HR significantly (F=38.2, p < 0.0001) increased over time. Additionally, both RPE scales exhibited a significant (F=27.4, p < 0.0001) effect over time. However, no significant effect (p = .43) was realized between RPE scales over time. Moreover, there was no significant interaction (p = .39) between RPE scales within each stage. CONCLUSION The results of this study indicated a significant RPE response occurred throughout the course of the test. In addition, there was no significant difference in responses to the two RPE scales. Therefore, the employment of an RPE scale with centrally focused verbal cues and the standard Borg 6–20 may be predictive during pharmacological stress tests.