open access
The effect of left ventricular dysfunction on right ventricle ejection fraction during exercise in heart failure patients: Implications in functional capacity and blood pressure response
open access
Abstract
Methods: In a cross-sectional study 65 patients with heart failure were included. Left and right ventricular ejection fractions were evaluated by radio-isotopic ventriculography. All subjects underwent an exercise treadmill test (Bruce modified protocol). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also recorded.
Results: From the total population, 38 (58.46%) showed a significant increase (≥ 5%) in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 27 (41.5%) showed a significant decrease in LVEF (≥ 5%) after the stress test. Patients with a significant reduction in LVEF during stress had lower exercise tolerance (4.1 ± 2.5 vs. 6.1 ± 2.5 METs, p = 0.009) compared to those who showed an increase in LVEF. Diastolic blood pressure was higher at rest among those who had a reduced LVEF during stress (83 ± 12.2 vs. 72.6 ± 12.2 mm Hg, p = 0.035) and during exercise (95 ± 31.3 vs. 76.9 ± 31.3 mm Hg, p = 0.057), as well as mean arterial pressure in the same group (97.1 ± 11.6 mm Hg, p = 0.05). In addition, this group decrease of –8.8 ± 51.6% in the right ventricular ejection fraction after exercise compared to an increase of 27.3 ± ± 49.1% (p = 0.007) among the patients with an increase in LVEF.
Conclusions: Biventricular systolic dysfunction during exercise is associated with higher rest and stress blood pressure and worse functional capacity.
Abstract
Methods: In a cross-sectional study 65 patients with heart failure were included. Left and right ventricular ejection fractions were evaluated by radio-isotopic ventriculography. All subjects underwent an exercise treadmill test (Bruce modified protocol). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also recorded.
Results: From the total population, 38 (58.46%) showed a significant increase (≥ 5%) in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 27 (41.5%) showed a significant decrease in LVEF (≥ 5%) after the stress test. Patients with a significant reduction in LVEF during stress had lower exercise tolerance (4.1 ± 2.5 vs. 6.1 ± 2.5 METs, p = 0.009) compared to those who showed an increase in LVEF. Diastolic blood pressure was higher at rest among those who had a reduced LVEF during stress (83 ± 12.2 vs. 72.6 ± 12.2 mm Hg, p = 0.035) and during exercise (95 ± 31.3 vs. 76.9 ± 31.3 mm Hg, p = 0.057), as well as mean arterial pressure in the same group (97.1 ± 11.6 mm Hg, p = 0.05). In addition, this group decrease of –8.8 ± 51.6% in the right ventricular ejection fraction after exercise compared to an increase of 27.3 ± ± 49.1% (p = 0.007) among the patients with an increase in LVEF.
Conclusions: Biventricular systolic dysfunction during exercise is associated with higher rest and stress blood pressure and worse functional capacity.
Keywords
biventricular dysfunction; functional capacity; blood pressure


Title
The effect of left ventricular dysfunction on right ventricle ejection fraction during exercise in heart failure patients: Implications in functional capacity and blood pressure response
Journal
Issue
Pages
127-132
Published online
2009-01-06
Bibliographic record
Cardiol J 2009;16(2):127-132.
Keywords
biventricular dysfunction
functional capacity
blood pressure
Authors
Rubén Silva-Tinoco
Lilia Castillo-Martínez
Arturo Orea-Tejeda
Enrique Asensio-Lafuente
José Juan Orozco-Gutiérrez
Oscar Vázquez-Díaz
Verónica Rebollar-González