Cardiopulmonary exercise response in patients with left ventricular dysfunction or heart failure: a noninvasive study by gas exchange and impedance cardiography monitoring

The Effect of Carotid Chemoreceptor Inhibition on Exercise Tolerance in Chronic Heart Failure

Purpose

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is characterized by heightened sympathetic nervous activity, carotid chemoreceptor (CC) sensitivity, marked exercise intolerance and an exaggerated ventilatory response to exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of CC inhibition on exercise cardiovascular and ventilatory function, and exercise tolerance in health and CHF.

Methods

Twelve clinically stable, optimally treated patients with CHF (mean ejection fraction: 43 ± 2.5%) and 12 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. Participants completed two time-to-symptom-limitation (TLIM) constant load cycling exercise tests at 75% peak power output with either intravenous saline or low-dose dopamine (2 μg⋅kg^–1⋅min^–1; order randomized). Ventilation was measured using expired gas data and operating lung volume data were determined during exercise by inspiratory capacity maneuvers. Cardiac output was estimated using impedance cardiography, and vascular conductance was calculated as cardiac output/mean arterial pressure.

Results

There was no change in TLIM in either group with dopamine (CHF: saline 13.1 ± 2.4 vs. dopamine 13.5 ± 1.6 min, p = 0.78; Control: saline 10.3 ± 1.2 vs. dopamine 11.5 ± 1.3 min, p = 0.16). In CHF patients, dopamine increased cardiac output (p = 0.03), vascular conductance (p = 0.01) and oxygen delivery (p = 0.04) at TLIM, while ventilatory parameters were unaffected (p = 0.76). In controls, dopamine improved vascular conductance at TLIM (p = 0.03), but no other effects were observed.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the CC contributes to cardiovascular regulation during full-body exercise in patients with CHF, however, CC inhibition does not improve exercise tolerance.

Effects of respiratory muscle unloading on leg muscle oxygenation and blood volume during high-intensity exercise in chronic heart failure

Blood flow requirements of the respiratory muscles (RM) increase markedly during exercise in chronic heart failure (CHF). We reasoned that if the RM could subtract a fraction of the limited cardiac output (QT) from the peripheral muscles, RM unloading would improve locomotor muscle perfusion. Nine patients with CHF (left ventricle ejection fraction = 26 ± 7%) undertook constant-work rate tests (70-80% peak) receiving proportional assisted ventilation (PAV) or sham ventilation. Relative changes (Δ%) in deoxy-hemoglobyn, oxi-Hb ([O2Hb]), tissue oxygenation index, and total Hb ([HbTOT], an index of local blood volume) in the vastus lateralis were measured by near infrared spectroscopy. In addition, QT was monitored by impedance cardiography and arterial O2 saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2). There were significant improvements in exercise tolerance (Tlim) with PAV. Blood lactate, leg effort/Tlim and dyspnea/Tlim were lower with PAV compared with sham ventilation ( P < 0.05). There were no significant effects of RM unloading on systemic O2 delivery as QT and SpO2 at submaximal exercise and at Tlim did not differ between PAV and sham ventilation ( P > 0.05). Unloaded breathing, however, was related to enhanced leg muscle oxygenation and local blood volume compared with sham, i.e., higher Δ[O2Hb]% and Δ[HbTOT]%, respectively ( P < 0.05). We conclude that RM unloading had beneficial effects on the oxygenation status and blood volume of the exercising muscles at similar systemic O2 delivery in patients with advanced CHF. These data suggest that blood flow was redistributed from respiratory to locomotor muscles during unloaded breathing.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children with heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine and compare the cardiopulmonary responses of healthy children and children with heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IC) to progressive treadmill exercise testing.

SETTING

University teaching hospital specializing in cardiology.

PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-six children with stable, chronic heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction < 45%) caused by IC (IC group) and 12 healthy children (control group).

INTERVENTIONS

After 12-lead resting ECG, all children underwent progressive treadmill exercise testing using a modified Naughton protocol. Tests were performed in a controlled-temperature exercise facility, at least 2 h after a light meal.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Cardiopulmonary parameters were assessed at rest, at anaerobic threshold (AT), and at peak exercise. At rest, the tidal volume (VT) and O(2) consumption (VO(2)) for heart rate (O(2) pulse) were lower, while the heart rate, respiratory rate, and ventilatory equivalent for O(2) (minute ventilation [VE]/VO(2)) were higher in the IC group compared with the control group. At AT, the systolic BP, O(2) pulse, VT, exercise duration, VO(2), CO(2) production (VCO(2)), and VE were lower, while the VE/VO(2) and ventilatory equivalent for CO(2) (E/CO(2)) were higher in the IC group (p < 0.05). At peak exercise, the IC group had a significantly lower systolic BP, O(2) pulse, VE, VT, exercise duration, VO(2), and VCO(2), but higher VE/VO(2) and VE/VCO(2) than the control group (p < 0.05). The VE/VCO(2) slope was significantly higher for the IC group. No correlation existed between variables evaluated at rest vs during exercise.

CONCLUSIONS

Gas exchange analysis performed during exercise successfully differentiated children with heart failure from healthy children.

Noninvasive assessment of hemodynamics: an emphasis on bioimpedance cardiography

Evaluation of the hemodynamic response in heart failure is a useful adjunct in clinical management. Invasive monitoring has been the accepted gold standard of hemodynamic assessment but carries with it significant associated risks. Noninvasive hemodynamic assessment in heart failure previously has been either unreliable or difficult to obtain. Bioimpedance relies on the proportional change in the conduction of alternating current applied across the thorax as a function of blood volume in the heart and great vessels. Stroke volume, cardiac output, thoracic fluid content, and measures of diastolic function can be determined with bioimpedance. Impedance cardiography is becoming an accepted method for safe, reliable, and reproducible assessment of hemodynamics in heart failure.

Hemodynamic and sympathetic nervous system responses to stress during the menstrual cycle

In this study, the impact of menstrual cycle phase on hemodynamic and sympathetic nervous system responses was examined during exposure to a battery of laboratory stressors. Participants were 40 healthy premenopausal women, aged 26 to 51. Impedance cardiography was used to measure stroke volume, heart rate, and cardiac output. Systemic vascular resistance was derived on the basis of concurrently recorded blood pressure and cardiac output. The menstrual cycle's effect on the sympathetic nervous system response was explored by evaluating plasma catecholamine responses during stress. In luteal compared with follicular subjects, systemic vascular resistance was significantly lower during all stress tasks (P < 0.03). Catecholamine responses were also significantly lower in luteal subjects (P < 0.004). The results suggest that the sympathetic nervous system may respond to stress differently during different phases of the menstrual cycle. This finding has implications for understanding "whitecoat hypertension" in women, and highlights the need to measure blood pressure during several office visits. Perhaps high blood pressure readings recorded during the follicular phase should be reexamined during the luteal phase before considering pharmacologic intervention.