Assessment of functional capacity through oxygen consumption in patients with asymptomatic probable heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
To compare peak exercise oxygen consumption (VO2peak) of healthy individuals with asymptomatic individuals with probable heart disease.


METHODS
Ninety-eight men were evaluated. They were divided into two groups: 1) 39 healthy individuals (group N) with an age range of 50 +/- 4.6 years; and 2) 59 asymptomatic individuals with signs of atherosclerotic and/or hypertensive heart disease (group C) with an age range of 51.9 +/- 10.4 years. In regard to age, height, body surface area, percentage of fat, lean body mass, and daily physical activity, both groups were statistically similar. Environmental conditions during the ergometric test were also controlled.


RESULTS
Maximal aerobic power (watts), VO2peak, maximal heart rate, and maximal pulmonary ventilation were lower in group C (p < 0.01) than in group N; weight, however, was lower in group N (p = 0.031) than in group C. Differences in the respiratory gas exchange index, heart rate at rest, and the maximal double product of the two groups were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Signs of probable heart disease, even though asymptomatic, may reduce the functional capacity, perhaps due to the lower maximal cardiac output and/or muscle metabolic changes.
Rodrigues
L O
LO
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais-UFMG, Brazil.
Silami-Garcia
E
E
Moreira
M da C
Mda C
Ribeiro
G A
GA
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D014109:Total Lung Capacity