On the reproducibility of exercise tests in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Fifteen patients with atrial fibrillation, mostly due to advanced valvular heart disease, were examined by a graded work test and an orthostatic test on two occasions, the reason being, to study the reproducibility of the test in such patients. In 6 of the 7 patients with the highest working capacity the agreement between the two tests was good regarding heart rates at maximum work load. In the 8 patients with a low working capacity the results of the two tests differed widely. In the orthostatic test the difference in increase of the heart rate after standing was less than 5 beats/min in 3 patients in one of the tests, and in 2 patients in both tests. The exercise test in patients with atrial fibrillation must be evaluated with caution and has an acceptable reproducibility only in patients with fairly good functional capacity.
Aberg
H
H
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Ström
G
G
Werner
I
I
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results