Decreased aerobic capacity 4 years after aortic valve replacement in male patients operated upon for chronic aortic regurgitation

• Exercise testing is underutilized in patients with valve disease. We have previously found a low physical work capacity in patients with aortic regurgitation 6 months after aortic valve replacement (AVR). The aim of this study was to evaluate aerobic capacity in patients 4 years after AVR, to study how their peak oxygen uptake (peakVO2) had changed postoperatively over a longer period of time. Twenty-one patients (all men, 52 +/- 13 years) who had previously undergone cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) pre- and 6 months postoperatively underwent maximal exercise testing 49 +/- 15 months postoperatively using an electrically braked bicycle ergometer. Breathing gases were analysed and the patients physical fitness levels categorized according to angstrom strands and Wassermans classifications. Mean peakVO2 was 22.8 +/- 5.1 ml x kg-1 x min-1 at the 49-month follow-up, which was lower than at the 6-month follow-up (25.6 +/- 5.8 ml x kg-1 x min-1, P = 0.001). All but one patient presented with a physical fitness level below average using angstrom strands classification, while 13 patients had a low physical capacity according to Wassermans classification. A significant decrease in peakVO2 was observed from six to 49 months postoperatively, and the decrease was larger than expected from the increased age of the patients. CPET could be helpful in timing aortic valve surgery and for the evaluation of need of physical activity as part of a rehabilitation programme.

Keyword

aortic valve insufficiency

cardiopulmonary exercise testing

exercise test

open heart surgery

peak oxygen uptake

physical capacity

physical fitness

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

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ref (subject category)

art (subject category)