A comparison of the response to arm and leg work in patients with ischemic heart disease.
An exercise test based on arm work was evaluated in a series of 33 male patients, mean age 52 years, with ischemic heart disease. The responses to arm exercise on a modified table-mounted bicycle ergometer and to standard bicycle exercise were compared. Twenty six of 33 patients (79 per cent) had identical end-points with both tests. Three patients had an ischemic response, i.e., significant ST abnormality and/or angina pectoris during leg work only, and four patients during arm work only. 41 per cent of the peakload during leg exercise. Mean values were 181 and 439 kpm./min. (p less than 0.001). Comparison of individual data on peak load demonstrated only a weak correlation between arm and leg work capacity (r = 0.37, p less than 0.05). Peak heart rate was slightly higher during leg work, 129 compared to 122 beats/min. (p less than 0.05) but the mean heart rate-systolic blood pressure products were not significantly different. A subgroup of seven patients had a history of angina pectoris preferentially precipitated by arm work but their physiological responses did not differ significantly from those of patients without a history of arm work sensitivity. The data indicate that arm work is a satisfactory alternate diagnostic test method with respect to myocardial ischemia, but measurements of physical work capacity defined as aerobic capacity, cannot be based on arm work.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology; D001132:Arm; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005221:Fatigue; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion