Feasibility Of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Research Articles

Maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing in laryngectomised patients using different heat and moisture exchangers - feasibility and exercise responses.

After laryngectomy, the breathing resistance of heat and moisture exchangers may limit exercise capacity. Breathing gas analysis during cardiopulmonary exercise testing is not possible using regular masks. This study tested the feasibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing with a heat and moisture exchanger in situ, using an in-house designed connector. Additionally, we explored the effect of different heat and moisture exchanger resistances on exercise capacity in this group. Ten participants underwent two cardiopulmonary exercise tests using their daily life heat and moisture exchanger (0.3 hPa or 0.6 hPa) and one specifically developed for activity (0.15 hPa). Heat and moisture exchanger order was randomised and blinded. All participants completed both tests. No (serious) adverse events occurred. Only four subjects reached a respiratory exchange ratio of more than 1.1 in at least one test. Maximum exercise levels using heat and moisture exchangers with different resistances did not differ. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in laryngectomees with a heat and moisture exchanger is feasible; however, the protocol does not seem appropriate to reach this group's maximal exercise capacity. Lowering heat and moisture exchanger resistance does not increase exercise capacity in this sample.

Safety and feasibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in head and neck cancer survivors.

Assess safety and feasibility of the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) for evaluating head and neck cancer (HaNC) survivors. Also compare their cardiorespiratory fitness to age and sex-matched norms and establish current physical activity levels. Fifty HaNC survivors [29 male; mean (SD) age, 62 (8) years], who had completed treatment up to 1 year previously, were recruited. Participants performed a CPET on a cycle ergometer to symptom-limited tolerance. Participants completed a questionnaire to report contributory factors they perceived as influencing test termination. Physical activity levels were determined using a self-reported physical activity questionnaire. Three participants did not complete the CPET because (1) poor fitting mouthpiece and naso-oral mask due to facial disfiguration from surgery; (2) knee pain elicited by cycling; and (3) early CPET termination due to electrocardiogram artefacts. Participants reached a mean peak oxygen uptake that was 34% lower than predicted and the mean (SD) CPET duration of 7:52 (2:29) min:s was significantly lower than the target test duration of 10 min (p < 0.001). Leg muscle aches and/or breathing discomfort were major contributory factors influencing test termination for 78% of participants, compared to 13% for dry mouth/throat and/or drainage in the mouth/throat. No major adverse events occurred. Participants were categorised as 26% active, 8% moderately active, and 66% insufficiently active. These preliminary data suggest the CPET appears safe and feasible for most HaNC survivors when strict exclusion criteria are applied; however, low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness should be considered when calculating an appropriate ramp rate.

Feasibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in interstitial lung disease: the PETFIB study

IntroductionCardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) provides a series of biomarkers, such as peak oxygen uptake, which could assess the development of disease status in interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, despite use...

Cardiovascular Function in Long-Term Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Survivors

Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), as measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), is a powerful independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in a broad range of populations. We assessed the safety and feasibility of CPET in aging long-term hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors, a population at high risk for premature onset of CVD. Next, we examined how organ-specific impairments (eg, cardiac, pulmonary, hematologic) impact VO2peak after HCT. Twenty consecutive HCT survivors underwent a comprehensive assessment of cardiopulmonary health that included CPET, echocardiography with strain, pulmonary function testing, 6-minute walk test, and timed up and go. Median age at assessment was 67.4 years (range, 42 to 75), and median time from HCT was 9.8 years (range, 3 to 20). No adverse events were observed during CPET procedures, and 95% of studies were considered to be at “peak” effort (respiratory exchange ratio ≥ 1.10). VO2peak was on average 22% less than predicted, and allogeneic HCT survivors had markedly lower VO2peak when compared with autologous HCT survivors (18.2 mL/kg/min versus 22.2 mL/kg/min; P = .05). Six participants (30%) had VO2peak ≤ 16 mL/kg/min, a threshold associated with a 9-foldrisk of death in patients undergoing HCT. Despite the presence of normal (>50%) resting left ventricular ejection fraction in all participants, 25% had markedly abnormal left ventricular longitudinal strain, an advanced echocardiographic measure of myocardial dysfunction. These findings highlight the role of stress-based measures and advanced myocardial imaging to characterize CVD risk in HCT survivors, setting the stage for tailored interventions to prevent CVD with its attendant morbidity and mortality.

Feasibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing and training using a robotics-assisted tilt table in dependent-ambulatory stroke patients.

BackgroundWe evaluated the feasibility of an augmented robotics-assisted tilt table (RATT) for incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and exercise training in dependent-ambulatory stroke patients.MethodsStroke patients (Functional Ambulation Category ≤ 3) underwent familiarization, an incremental exercise test (IET) and a constant load test (CLT) on separate days. A RATT equipped with force sensors in the thigh cuffs, a work rate estimation algorithm and real-time visual feedback to guide the exercise work rate was used. Feasibility assessment considered technical feasibility, patient tolerability, and cardiopulmonary responsiveness.ResultsEight patients (4 female) aged 58.3 ± 9.2 years (mean ± SD) were recruited and all completed the study. For IETs, peak oxygen uptake (V'O2peak), peak heart rate (HRpeak) and peak work rate (WRpeak) were 11.9 ± 4.0 ml/kg/min (45 % of predicted V'O2max), 117 ± 32 beats/min (72 % of predicted HRmax) and 22.5 ± 13.0 W, respectively. Peak ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were on the range "hard" to "very hard". All 8 patients reached their limit of functional capacity in terms of either their cardiopulmonary or neuromuscular performance.A ventilatory threshold (VT) was identified in 7 patients and a respiratory compensation point (RCP) in 6 patients: mean V'O2 at VT and RCP was 8.9 and 10.7 ml/kg/min, respectively, which represent 75 % (VT) and 85 % (RCP) of mean V'O2peak. Incremental CPET provided sufficient information to satisfy the responsiveness criteria and identification of key outcomes in all 8 patients.For CLTs, mean steady-state V'O2 was 6.9 ml/kg/min (49 % of V'O2 reserve), mean HR was 90 beats/min (56 % of HRmax), RPEs were > 2, and all patients maintained the active work rate for 10 min: these values meet recommended intensity levels for bouts of training.ConclusionsThe augmented RATT is deemed feasible for incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing and exercise training in dependent-ambulatory stroke patients: the approach was found to be technically implementable, acceptable to the patients, and it showed substantial cardiopulmonary responsiveness. This work has clinical implications for patients with severe disability who otherwise are not able to be tested.

Feasibility of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and Longitudinal Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) Assessment in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Feasibility of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and Longitudinal Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) Assessment in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Exercise Testing in Survivors of Intensive Care—Is There a Role for Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing?

Abstract Purpose The aims of this study were to assess the feasibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) for the early assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness in general adult intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and to characterize the pathophysiology of exercise limitation in this population. Methods Fifty general ICU survivors (ventilated for ≥5 days) performed a maximal cycle ergometer CPET within 6 weeks of hospital discharge. Health-related quality of life was measured by the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 version 2.0 questionnaire. Results Fifty patients (median age, 57 years; median Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II score, 16) completed a CPET 24 ± 14 days after hospital discharge with no adverse events. Significant exercise limitation was present with peak V o 2 56% ± 16% predicted and anaerobic threshold (AT) 41% ± 13% of peak predicted V o 2. Prospectively stratified subgroup comparison showed that patients ventilated for 14 days or more had a significantly lower AT and peak V o 2 than those ventilated for 5 to 14 days (AT: 9.6 vs 11.7 mL/kg per minute O2, P = .009; peak V o 2: 12.9 vs 15.3 mL/kg per minute O2, P = .022). At peak exercise, heart rate reserve was 25% ± 14%, breathing reserve was 47% ± 19%, and the respiratory exchange ratio was 0.96 ± 0.11. Ventilatory equivalents for CO2 (Eq co 2) were 39 ± 9. Conclusions Significant exercise limitation is evident in patients who have had critical illness. Etiology of exercise limitation appears multifactorial, with general deconditioning and muscle weakness as major contributory factors. Early CPET appears a practical method of assessing exercise capacity in ICU survivors. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing could be used to select patients who may benefit most from a targeted physical rehabilitation program, aid in exercise prescription, and help assess the response to intervention.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in cancer rehabilitation: a systematic review.

This systematic review aims to get insight into the feasibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in patients with cancer prior to a physical exercise programme. We will focus on quality (defined as the adherence to international guidelines for methods of CPET) and safety of CPET. Furthermore, we compare the peak oxygen uptake (·VO(2peak)) values of patients with cancer with reference values for healthy persons to put these values into a clinical perspective. A computer aided search with 'cardiopulmonary exercise testing' and 'cancer' using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Pedro, CINAHL® and SPORTDiscus™ was carried out. We included studies in which CPET with continuous gas exchange analysis has been performed prior to a physical exercise programme in adults with cancer. Twenty studies describing 1158 patients were eligible. Reported adherence to international recommendations for CPET varied per item. In most studies, the methods of CPET were not reported in detail. Adverse events occurred in 1% of patients. The percentage ·VO(2peak) of reference values for healthy persons varied between 65% and 89% for tests before treatment, between 74% and 96% for tests during treatment and between 52% and 117% for tests after treatment. Our results suggest that CPET is feasible and seems to be safe for patients with cancer prior to a physical exercise programme. We recommend that standard reporting and quality guidelines should be followed for CPET methods. The decreased ·VO(2peak) values of patients with cancer indicate that physical exercise should be implemented in their standard care.

The Feasibility of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing for Prescribing Exercise to People After Stroke

Despite the importance of exercise training in mitigating cardiovascular risk, the development of exercise programs for people poststroke has been limited by lack of feasibility data concerning cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to inform the exercise prescription. Therefore, we examined the feasibility of CPETs for developing an exercise prescription in people ≥3 months poststroke. CPET results from 98 consecutively enrolled patients poststroke with motor impairments and 98 age- and sex-matched patients with coronary artery disease were examined at baseline and after 6 months of exercise training. The proportion of patients with stroke and coronary artery disease attaining an intensity sufficient for prescribing exercise at baseline was 68.4% versus 82.7%, respectively (P=0.02) and 84.7% versus 83.8% (P=0.9) at 6 months. Women were less likely than men poststroke to achieve a sufficient intensity at baseline (40% versus 80.9%, P<0.001) but not at 6 months (78.3% versus 87.1, P=0.3). A clinically relevant abnormality occurred in 11.2% of stroke and 12.2% of patients with coronary artery disease on baseline CPETs (P=0.8) and 10.6% of stroke and 5.9% of patients with coronary artery disease on the 6-month CPET (P=0.4). No serious cardiovascular events occurred during 349 CPETs. Most patients after stroke achieved a level of exertion during the CPET sufficient to inform an exercise prescription. At least 1 of 10 patients poststroke developed a clinically relevant abnormality on baseline and postprogram CPETs with no serious cardiovascular events. These data support the feasibility and safety of CPETs for prescribing exercise poststroke. Strategies to improve use of baseline CPETs for women poststroke require further investigation.

Exercise testing in survivors of intensive care—is there a role for cardiopulmonary exercise testing?

PurposeThe aims of this study were to assess the feasibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) for the early assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness in general adult intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and to characterize the pathophysiology of exercise limitation in this population. MethodsFifty general ICU survivors (ventilated for ≥5 days) performed a maximal cycle ergometer CPET within 6 weeks of hospital discharge. Health-related quality of life was measured by the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 version 2.0 questionnaire. ResultsFifty patients (median age, 57 years; median Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II score, 16) completed a CPET 24 ± 14 days after hospital discharge with no adverse events. Significant exercise limitation was present with peak Vo2 56% ± 16% predicted and anaerobic threshold (AT) 41% ± 13% of peak predicted Vo2. Prospectively stratified subgroup comparison showed that patients ventilated for 14 days or more had a significantly lower AT and peak Vo2 than those ventilated for 5 to 14 days (AT: 9.6 vs 11.7 mL/kg per minute O2, P = .009; peak Vo2: 12.9 vs 15.3 mL/kg per minute O2, P = .022). At peak exercise, heart rate reserve was 25% ± 14%, breathing reserve was 47% ± 19%, and the respiratory exchange ratio was 0.96 ± 0.11. Ventilatory equivalents for CO2 (Eqco2) were 39 ± 9. ConclusionsSignificant exercise limitation is evident in patients who have had critical illness. Etiology of exercise limitation appears multifactorial, with general deconditioning and muscle weakness as major contributory factors. Early CPET appears a practical method of assessing exercise capacity in ICU survivors. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing could be used to select patients who may benefit most from a targeted physical rehabilitation program, aid in exercise prescription, and help assess the response to intervention.

Safety and feasibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with advanced cancer

The use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is increasing in many areas of disease management, the clinical utility of this procedure in patients with advanced cancer remains to be determined. Accordingly, we conducted a pilot study to comprehensively evaluate the safety and feasibility of CPET in 85 patients diagnosed with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Using a cross-sectional design, consecutive patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed inoperable NSCLC or MBC were screened for eligibility by their attending oncologist. All consenting patients performed complete pulmonary function tests (NSCLC only) and a symptom-limited CPET on a cycle ergometer with gas exchange analysis. A total of 85 patients (NSCLC, n=46; MBC, n=39) were recruited and tested. Overall, there were a total of three (3.5%) positive exercise tests [NSCLC, n=2 (4.3%); MBC, n=1 (2.6%)]; 68 (80.0%) negative tests [NSCLC, n=33 (71.7%); MBC, n=35 (89.7%)]; and 14 (16.5%) indeterminate tests [NSCLC, n=11 (23.3%); MBC, n=3 (7.7%)]. Two patients experienced an adverse event during exercise testing. Mean VO(2peak) was 17.0mlkg(-1)min(-1) and 16.5mlkg(-1)min(-1) for NSCLC and MBC patients, respectively. The mean percentage of age and sex-predicted VO(2peak) maximum for both groups was 67%. A symptom-limited, individualized CPET appears to be a relatively safe and feasible assessment tool to objectively evaluate physical functioning in selected patients with advanced cancer. This study provides important information to future investigations examining the potential role of exercise training in this patient population.