Response of the oxygen uptake efficiency slope to exercise training in patients with chronic heart failure.
BACKGROUND
The oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) is a new exercise parameter that provides prognostic power in patients with CHF. Little is known about the effects of exercise training (ET) on OUES.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the response of OUES to 6 months of ET in CHF patients and compare its evolution to that of other exercise variables.


METHODS
35 patients with CHF (NYHA II-III, age 54+/-9y, LVEF 31+/-10%) performed 3 maximal exercise tests, i.e. at the start, middle and end of a 6 month ET program. OUES, PeakVO(2), ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) and slope VE/VCO(2) were determined.


RESULTS
OUES, peakVO(2), VAT, slope VE/VCO(2), peak Watt, 6MWT and NYHA-class improved during the first part of the ET period (p<0.05). Only VAT, peak Watt and 6MWT continued to improve during the second part of the ET period (p<0.05) Improvements in OUES correlated better with improvements in peakVO(2) (r=0.77, p<0.001), than changes in other prognostic variables.


CONCLUSIONS
OUES improves significantly after 6 months of ET. Changes in peakVO(2) correlate best with changes in OUES. OUES is sensitive to ET and can be used to evaluate the progression of exercise capacity in CHF patients.
Van Laethem
Christophe
C
Department of Physiotherapy, Artevelde Institute of Higher Education Ghent, Belgium. christophe.vanlaethem@arteveldehs.be <christophe.vanlaethem@arteveldehs.be>
Van De Veire
Nico
N
De Backer
Guy
G
Bihija
Salhi
S
Seghers
Tony
T
Cambier
Dirk
D
Vanderheyden
Marc
M
De Sutter
Johan
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen