title: Association between baseline cardiovascular mechanics and exercise capacity in patients with coronary artery disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Functional capacity is one of the cardinal determinants of morbidity and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We hypothesized that baseline cardiovascular mechanics, including cardiac systolic and diastolic functions, arterial mechanics, and ventriculoarterial interaction, may play a role in predicting exercise capacity in patients with CAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty consecutive patients with CAD who were referred to cardiac rehabilitation were prospectively included in the study. Patients with non-sinus rhythms or severe valvular disease were excluded. Full left ventricular pressure-volume loops were constructed and arterial mechanics was evaluated using echocardiographic and tonometric measurements. Cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed to measure exercise capacity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty patients were enrolled in the study. Ventriculo-arterial coupling showed a moderate correlation with peak oxygen consumption (VO2) (r=0.410, p=0.04) in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Only left ventricular volume at 15 mm Hg (r=0.514, p<0.01) in diastolic parameters (stiffness constant, p=0.75; ventricular compliance, p=0.17) and arterial compliance (r=0.467, p=0.01) in arterial parameters [arterial elastance, p=0.27; systemic vascular resistance, p=0.45; augmentation pressure, p=0.85; augmentation index (AIx), p=0.63; heart rate-corrected AIx, p=0.68] emerged as significant factors correlated with peak VO2 in patients with normal LVEF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comprehensive evaluation of resting cardiovascular mechanics can give clues about exercise-recruited reserves of the cardiovascular system. Optimization of ventriculo-arterial coupling in patients with reduced LVEF and arterial compliance in patients with normal LVEF should be the main target in patients with CAD and limited functional capacity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Yeditepe University Hospital, İstanbul-Turkey. mr_aslanger@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aslanger
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Paris-France.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Assous
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Paris-France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bihry
authors.affiliation: UMR-S 942, Université Paris Diderot, DHU FIRE, Department of Cardiology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, (AP-HP) Paris-France.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beauvais
authors.affiliation: UMR-S 942, Université Paris Diderot, DHU FIRE, Department of Cardiology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, (AP-HP) Paris-France.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Logeart
authors.affiliation: UMR-S 942, Université Paris Diderot, DHU FIRE, Department of Cardiology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, (AP-HP) Paris-France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cohen-Solal