title: [DDD versus DDDR pacemaker stimulation: comparison of cardiopulmonary performance, incidence of atrial arrhythmias and quality of life].
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess cardiopulmonary exercise capacity, variation in heart rate during everyday activities, frequency of atrial arrhythmias and quality-of-life during accelerometer-based rate modulated dual-chamber pacing. Nine chronotropically incompetent and 14 chronotropically competent patients (mean age 51 years) were randomly assigned to DDD and DDDR mode and evaluated by a semisupine bicycle exercise testing exceeding the anaerobic threshold, 24-h Holter monitoring and a quality-of-life questionnaire. In the subgroup of patients with chronotropic incompetence, defined by a HR/VO2-ration, 2 beats/ml/kg, during DDDR pacing, compared to DDD, maximum heart rate increased from 83 +/- 13 to 132 +/- 7 beats/min (p < 0.01), maximum oxygen uptake from 12.7 +/- 3.1 to 15.3 +/- 3.2 ml/kg/min ( p < 0.05) and the VO2/WR-ratio from 8.1 +/- 1.0 to 9.0 +/- 0.9 ml/min/watts (p < 0.05). Exercise duration lengthened from 252 +/- 59 to 301 +/- 96 s (p < 0.05). During the 24-h Holter recordings the average maximum heart rate rose form 69 +/- 7 in the DDD mode to 78 +/- 9 beats/min in the DDDR mode significantly (p < 0.05). DDDR pacing did not result in an increased number of atrial salvos (2.6 atrial events/24 h) when compared to DDD pacing (2.5 atrial events/24 h, N.S.). These objective results were confirmed by the quality-of life assessment due to a symptom questionnaire. The symptom score declined from 20 +/- 10 in the DDD mode to 16 +/- 7 in the DDDR mode (p < 0.01). In the patients with chronotropic competence, however, cardiopulmonary exercise capacity did not improve in the DDDR mode: maximum heart rate was 120 +/- 21 versus 130 +/- 24 beats/min (N.S.), maximum oxygen uptake 17.7 +/- 5.9 versus 16.8 +/- 5.9 ml/kg/min (N.S.), The VO2/WR-ratio 9.8 +/- 2.3 versus 9.2 +/- 2.5 ml/min/watts (N.S.) and the exercise duration 407 +/- 159 versus 406 +/- 165 s (N.S.). The average maximum heart rate was 80 +/- 15 in the DDD mode and 83 +/- 16 beats/min in the DDDR mode (N.S.). Significantly more atrial arrhythmias occurred in the DDDR pacing mode: 1.6 atrial salvos per 24 h in the DDD mode versus 4.8 atrial salvos per 24 h in the DDDR mode (p < 0.05). This patient subgroup experienced a significant worsening of his quality-of-life. The symptom score rose from 20 +/- 9 in the DDD mode to 28 +/- 11 in the DDDR mode (p < 0.05). In conclusion, DDDR pacing improved cardiopulmonary exercise capacity, normalized heart rate variation over 24 h and increased quality-of-life in patients with chronotropic incompetence. On the contrary, since the DDDR pacing more could not improve cardiopulmonary exercise capacity, increased atrial arrhythmias and worsened the patient's quality-of-life, patients with chronotropic competence should not be programmed in the DDDR pacing mode.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Innere Medizin Kardiologie, Marienhospital Osnabrück.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Epperlein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kreft
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Siegert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liebrich
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Himmrich
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Treese
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011788:Quality of Life; D012804:Sick Sinus Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
vernacular_title: DDD- versus DDDR-Schrittmacherstimulation: Vergleich der kardiopulmonalen Leistungsfähigkeit, der Häufigkeit von Vorhofarrhythmien und der Lebensqualität.