Standardized Functional Assessment (talk Test) Provides Outcomes For Patients S/P Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Abstract

PURPOSE: The Talk Test (TT) has been shown to be associated with intensities within ACSM guidelines for exercise training and very close to the intensities associated with ventilatory threshold (VT). This association has proven beneficial for providing objective outcomes for the cardiac rehabilitation population, although the investigations have not been population specific within the cardiac rehabilitation setting. The authors wanted to evaluate the TT relative to providing objective outcomes for program evaluation, outcome documentation and discharge communication for patients who are status post coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: CABG patients (n=15) completed pre and post evaluation of functional capacity (FC) using a standardized TT protocol. FC is defined as sustainable exercise intensity designated by patient response of equivocal (±) during a standard exercise protocol. The indices of the TT are elicited by having a patient read a standardized paragraph during consecutive stages of the functional assessment, followed by self evaluation of their own ability to speak comfortably. The authors compared responses using the (±) stage of the pre assessment versus values at the same intensity during an exit evaluation from CR. The outcomes at ± TT are defined by metabolic equivalent (METs), Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), Rate Pressure Product (RPP), Heart Rate (HR), and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP). RESULTS: The (±) TT Post CR METs (4.27 ± 1.66 vs 5.80 ± 1.79), RPE (12.86/20 ± 1.24 vs 10.66/20 ± 1.95), SBP (140.40 ± 15.99 vs 129.86 ± 15.96 mm/hg), RPP (14.54 ± 3.23 vs 12.16 ± 3.05 bpm x mm Hg x 10−3), and HR (103.53 ± 16.22 vs 93.66 ± 16.06) were significantly lower (p<0.05) when compared to pre CR ± TT intensities. CONCLUSIONS: The TT provides excellent method for outcomes documentation, for demonstrating increased functional capacity and reflecting decreased overall workload of the cardiovascular system during submaximal exercise in patients status post coronary artery bypass grafting.