title: [Reproducibility of spiro-ergometric exercise test parameters in patients with heart failure].
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the degree of reproducibility of parameters of cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) tests in patients with chronic heart failure (HF).
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 30 patients (7 women, 23 men) with ages ranging from 44 to 68 and a mean age of 56 +/- 14.5 years with HF due to dilated cardiomyopathy (5 patients) and coronary artery diseases (25 patients). The mean ejection fraction was 24 +/- 6.2%. All the patients were symptomatically stable during the preceding 4 weeks. After a preliminary test, the patients underwent two treadmill CPX tests using modified Naughton protocol with a 1-week interval between tests. CPX tests were performed at the same time of the day, using the same equipment and the patients were receiving constant medication. The reproducibility was assessed for: Rest heart rate (HRrest), oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold (VO2AT) and peak exercise (VO2peak), carbon dioxide production (VCO2peak), ventilatory equivalent of carbon dioxide (VE/VCO2peak) and oxygen (VE/VO2peak), end-tidal partial pressure for carbon dioxide (PETCO2peak), exercise time (T) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reproducibility was found for all analyzed parameters of CPX tests: HRpeak (p < 0.0001), VO2AT (p < 0.0001), T (p < 0.001), HRpeak (p < 0.0001), VO2peak (p < 0.0001), VO2peak%N (p < 0.0001), VE/VCO2peak (p < 0.0001), VE/VO2peak (p < 0.0001), PETCO2peak (p < 0.0001), RER (p < 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On adherence to standardized conditions, an excellent reproducibility exists for the most important parameters of cardiopulmonary exercise tests. CPX tests provide a useful and objective method of assessing functional capacity and diseases progression in patients with heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Chorób Serca i Naczyń Instytutu Kardiologii Collegium Medicum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, 31-202 Kraków, ul. Pradnicka 80.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Podolec
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tomkiewicz-Pajak
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pieculewicz
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barczyk
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tarkota
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaźnica
authors.forename: Mieczysław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasowicz
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olszowska
authors.forename: Wiesława
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tracz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013318:Stroke Volume