Punto de quiebre del doble producto como indicador de transición metabólica durante el ejercicio en pacientes coronarios / Double product breakpoint as an indicator of metabolic transition during exercise in coronary patients / Ponto de quebra do duplo produto como um indicador de transição metabólica durante o exercício em pacientes com doenças coronárias

El umbral anaeróbico ha sido utilizado como un buen indicador de capacidad funcional y de implicancias pronósticas en pacientes cardíacos. El objetivo fue evaluar un método no invasivo como el punto de quiebre del doble producto (PQDP) durante el ejercicio, punto en el cual se produjo un aumento claro y sostenido de la pendiente de doble producto (DP) durante la prueba de esfuerzo incremental. DP= frecuencia cardiaca (FC) x presión arterial sistólica (PAS), que podría ser aplicado para el entrenamiento físico y de información pronóstica en pacientes con enfermedad coronaria (EC). Material y métodos. Se evaluaron 33 hombres y 9 mujeres de 64,8 ± 7,6 años con EC documentada, clínicamente estables con tratamiento médico y en ritmo sinusal. Todos realizaron una PEG en cinta deslizante. El ejercicio consistió en un período inicial de entrada en calor (1 km/h) con cargas crecientes por etapa de 0,4 km/h cada minuto hasta el límite de tolerancia del sujeto. El consumo de oxígeno (VO2) se midió con un sistema portátil (COSMED), la FC con un ECG de 12 derivaciones y la presión arterial por esfigmomanometría en cada etapa. El DP vs VO2 fue sometido a 3 evaluadores independientes para la determinación visual del VT1 y PQDP. El test de Student se utilizó para comparar velocidad (km/h) en VT1 y PQDP y el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson entre ambos parámetros (p<0,05). Resultados. Los pacientes no tuvieron síntomas. Se determinó el VT1 y PQDP en todos ellos. La velocidad del PQDP fue de 2,6 ± 0,5 km/h y la velocidad en VT1 2,6 ± 0, 6 km/h, sin diferencias significativas entre ambos. Encontramos una correlación positiva comparando VT1 vs PQDP (r2=0,6). Conclusiones. Se pudo medir el PQDP en pacientes coronarios con una buena correlación positiva con VT1. Esta variable podría ser eficaz en el pronóstico de esta enfermedad y seguimiento con el entrenamiento físico, pero requerirá más sujetos con diferentes condiciones físicas para ser analizada como un parámetro relevante.

The anaerobic threshold has been used as a good indicator of functional capacity and prognostic implications in cardiac patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate an alternative and non invasive method like the double product break point (DPBP), as the point at which a clear and sustained increase in double product (DP) slope occurred during incremental exercise test. DP= heart rate (HR) x systolic blood pressure (SBP), that could be applied for physical training and prognosis information in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Material and methods. We evaluated 33 male and 9 female patients mean age 64.8 ± 7.6 years with documented CHD, clinically stables with medical treatment and sinus rhythm, in conditions to walk in a treadmill using an incremental test until exhaustion. The exercise consisted of an initial period of warm up (1 km/h) followed by the work rate being increased by 0.4 km/h each 1 minute stage to the limit of the subject’s tolerance. Oxygen consumption (VO2) was measured with a portable system (COSMED), HR trough a 12 lead ECG (SCHILLER) and blood pressure with sphygmomanometer each stage. Double product vs VO2 for each subject was submitted to 3 blind evaluators for visual determination of the ventilatory threshold (VT1) and DPBP, respectively. A Student t test was used to compare speed (km/h) at VT1 and DPBP and Pearson’s product-moment correlation to assess the relationship between both parameters (p<0.05). Results. Patients completed the evaluation without symptoms. We could determine VT1 and DPBP in all of them. Speed at DPBP was 2.6 ± 0.5 km/h and speed at VT1 2.6 ± 0.6 km/h, with no significant difference between both values. We found a positive linearship correlation comparing VT1 vs DPBP (r2=0.6). Conclusions. We could measure the DPBP in coronary patients with strong positive correlation with VT1, and could be used as effective variable in the prognosis of this disease and monitoring physical training, but it will require more subjects with different physical conditions to be analyzed as a relevant parameter.

O limiar anaeróbico tem sido usado como um indicador bom da capacidade pulmonar e das suas implicâncias em pacientes cardíacos. O objetivo da nossa pesquisa foi avaliar um método alternativo e não invasivo como o ponto de quebra do duplo produto (PQDP), expressado como o ponto de inflexão na curva do produto da frequência cardíaca (FC) e da pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) durante o exercício que poderia ser aplicada para o treinamento físico e da informação prognóstica em pacientes com doenças coronárias (DC). Material e métodos. Avaliaram-se 33 homens e 9 mulheres de média idade 64,8 ± 7,6 anos com DC documentada, clinicamente estável com tratamento médico e em ritmo sinusal. Todos eles em condições de caminhar numa esteira e, após sua adaptação, usando uma prova incremental hasta o esgotamento extremo. O exercício consistiu num período inicial de preaquecimento (1 km/h) com cargas crescentes por etapa de 0,4 km/h a cada minuto hasta o limite de tolerância do paciente. O consumo de oxigênio (VO2) foi medido com um sistema portátil (COSMED), a FC com um registro ECG de 12 derivações (SCHILLER) e a pressão arterial por esfigmomanometria em cada etapa. O duplo produto vs VO2 para cada paciente foi submetido a 3 avaliadores independentes para a determinação visual do limiar ventilatório (VT1) e PQDP, respectivamente. Uma prova de t de Student foi usada para comparar velocidade (km/h) em VT1 e PQDP e o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson entre ambos os parâmetros (p<0,05). Resultados. Os pacientes completaram a avaliação sem sintomas. Foi obtido o VT1 e PQDP para todos eles. A velocidade no PQDP foi de 2,6 ± 0,5 km/h e a velocidade em VT1 2,6 ± 0,6 km/h, sem diferenças significativas entre ambos os valores. Foi observada uma correlação positiva comparando VT1 vs PQDP (r2=0,6). Conclusões. Foi medido o PQDP em pacientes coronários com uma boa correlação positiva com VT1 e esta variável poderia ser eficaz no prognóstico de esta doença e no seguimento do treinamento físico, porém se precisara de um número maior de indivíduos com diferentes condições físicas para ser analisada como um parâmetro relevante.

Influence of exercise modality on agreement between gas exchange and heart rate variability thresholds

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the level of agreement between the gas exchange threshold (GET) and heart rate variability threshold (HRVT) during maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) using three different exercise modalities. A further aim was to establish whether there was a 1:1 relationship between the percentage heart rate reserve (%HRR) and percentage oxygen uptake reserve ( % V ˙ O 2  R ) at intensities corresponding to GET and HRVT. Sixteen apparently healthy men 17 to 28 years of age performed three maximal CPETs (cycling, walking, and running). Mean heart rate and V ˙ O 2 at GET and HRVT were 16 bpm (P<0.001) and 5.2 mL·kg-1·min-1 (P=0.001) higher in running than cycling, but no significant differences were observed between running and walking, or cycling and walking (P>0.05). There was a strong relationship between GET and HRVT, with R2 ranging from 0.69 to 0.90. A 1:1 relationship between %HRR and % V ˙ O 2  R was not observed at GET and HRVT. The %HRR was higher during cycling (GET mean difference=7%; HRVT mean difference=11%; both P<0.001), walking (GET mean difference=13%; HRVT mean difference=13%; both P<0.001), or running (GET mean difference=11%; HRVT mean difference=10%; both P<0.001). Therefore, using HRVT to prescribe aerobic exercise intensity appears to be valid. However, to assume a 1:1 relationship between %HRR and % V ˙ O 2  R at HRVT would probably result in overestimation of the energy expenditure during the bout of exercise.

Predicted maximal oxygen consumption (VO2MAX) values obtained during the maximal treadmill test using different protocols.

Background: VO2MAX is the sole major criterion for endurance assessment. By using the regression equation the necessity of the sophisticated gas analyzer is eliminated. The usability and applicability of such equations are questioned due to non-uniformity, standardization and other variables. Methods: 100 healthy young male subjects were recruited and each performed all the four selected treadmill protocol viz. Bruce, Modified Bruce, Ellestad and Balke. VO2MAX was calculated for each person for each protocol by using regression equation. Results: Mean and SD values of VO2MAX of each protocol were, Balke (41.94 ± 2.15), Bruce (64.55 ± 6.7), Ellestad (61.17 ± 7.5), Modified Bruce (64.36 ± 5.4). There was difference among different protocols (p<0.05), except between Bruce and Modified Bruce (p>0.05). These were compared with ACSM predicted equation based on age and height (51.5+7.4). Later Paired t-test was applied. There is no statistically significant difference between the Bruce and Modified Bruce protocols. Highest difference was observed between the Balke and Bruce protocol and between Balke and Modified Bruce, as was the difference between Balke and Ellestad protocol. Conclusion: For endurance testing Ellestad protocol can be a suitable option in resource crunch settings as the Balke protocol underestimates and Bruce overestimates the VO2MAX. Devising a ramp protocol for the population subset’s need can be the best option.

Stability of relative oxygen pulse curve during repeated maximal cardiopulmonary testing in professional soccer players

During cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), stroke volume can be indirectly assessed by O2 pulse profile. However, for a valid interpretation, the stability of this variable over time should be known. The objective was to analyze the stability of the O2 pulse curve relative to body mass in elite athletes. VO2, heart rate (HR), and relative O2 pulse were compared at every 10 percent of the running time in two maximal CPETs, from 2005 to 2010, of 49 soccer players. Maximal values of VO2 (63.4 ± 0.9 vs 63.5 ± 0.9 mL O2•kg-1•min-1), HR (190 ± 1 vs188 ± 1 bpm) and relative O2 pulse (32.9 ± 0.6 vs 32.6 ± 0.6 mL O2•beat-1•kg-1) were similar for the two CPETs (P > 0.05), while the final treadmill velocity increased from 18.5 ± 0.9 to 18.9 ± 1.0 km/h (P < 0.01). Relative O2 pulse increased linearly and similarly in both evaluations (r² = 0.64 and 0.63) up to 90 percent of the running time. Between 90 and 100 percent of the running time, the values were less stable, with up to 50 percent of the players showing a tendency to a plateau in the relative O2 pulse. In young healthy men in good to excellent aerobic condition, the morphology of the relative O2 pulse curve is consistent up to close to the peak effort for a CPET repeated within a 1-year period. No increase in relative O2pulse at peak effort could represent a physiologic stroke volume limitation in these athletes.

The slope of the oxygen pulse curve does not depend on the maximal heart rate in elite soccer players

INTRODUCTION: It is unknown whether an extremely high heart rate can affect oxygen pulse profile during progressive maximal exercise in healthy subjects. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to compare relative oxygen pulse (adjusted for body weight) curves in athletes at their maximal heart rate during treadmill cardiopulmonary exercise testing. METHODS: A total of 180 elite soccer players were categorized in quartiles according to their maximum heart rate values (n = 45). Oxygen consumption, maximum heart rate and relative oxygen pulse curves in the extreme quartiles, Q1 and Q4, were compared at intervals corresponding to 10 percent of the total duration of a cardiopulmonary exercise testing. RESULTS: Oxygen consumption was similar among all subjects during cardiopulmonary exercise testing; however subjects in Q1 started to exhibit lower maximum heart rate values when 20 percent of the test was complete. Conversely, the relative oxygen pulse was higher in this group when cardiopulmonary exercise testing was 40 percent complete (p<.01). Although the slopes of the lines were similar (p = .25), the regression intercepts differed (p<.01) between Q1 and Q4. During the last two minutes of testing, a flat or decreasing oxygen pulse was identified in 20 percent of the soccer players, and this trend was similar between subjects in Q1 and Q4. CONCLUSION: Relative oxygen pulse curve slopes, which serve as an indirect and non-invasive surrogate for stroke volume, suggest that the stroke volume is similar in young and aerobically fit subjects regardless of the maximum heart rate reached.

Long-term stability of the oxygen pulse curve during maximal exercise

INTRODUCTION: Exercise oxygen pulse (O2 pulse), a surrogate for stroke volume and arteriovenous oxygen difference, has emerged as an important variable obtained during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that the O2 pulse curve pattern response to a maximal cycling ramp protocol exhibits a stable linear pattern in subjects reevaluated under the same clinical conditions. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 100 adults (80 males), mean age at baseline of 59 + 12 years, who performed two cardiopulmonary exercise testings (median interval was 15 months), for clinical and/or exercise prescription reasons. The relative O2 pulse was calculated by dividing its absolute value by body weight. Subjects were classified into quintiles of relative O2 pulse. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing results and the O2 pulse curve pattern, expressed by its slope and intercept, were compared among quintiles of relative O2 pulse at both cardiopulmonary exercise testings. RESULTS: After excluding the first minute of CPX (rest-exercise transition), the relative O2 pulse curve exhibited a linear increase, as demonstrated by high coefficients of determination (R² from 0.75 to 0.90; p<0.05 for all quintiles). Even though maximum oxygen uptake and relative O2 pulse were significantly higher in the second cardiopulmonary exercise testing for each quintile of relative O2 pulse (p<0.05 for all comparisons), no differences were found when slopes and intercepts were compared between the first and second cardiopulmonary exercise testings (p>0.05 for all comparisons; except for intercept in the 5th quintile). CONCLUSION: Excluding the rest-exercise transition, the relative O2 pulse exhibited a stable linear increase throughout maximal exercise in adults that were retested under same clinical conditions.

Change in plasma adenosine concentration during and after dynamic exercise in healthy men / 体力科学

To evaluate the contribution of adenosine (AD) to exercise capacity, plasma concentrations of AD were assessed before, during and after dynamic exercise in 6 healthy men (24-32yr) . The exercise protocol was a symptom-limited ramp exercise test. Blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory gas exchange parameters were monitored throughout the exercise test. The first exercise test (EX 1) was performed to determine the anaerobic threshold (AT) . The second exercise test (EX 2) was performed 2 days after EX 1 and blood samples for assay of AD, lactate and norepinephrine (NE) were taken from the cubital vein at rest, before and after AT, at peak exercise, and 5, 10, 15min after EX 2. Blood for assay of AD was collected into a vaccum tube with EDTA, dipyridamole and 2'-deoxycoformycin. Plasma AD concentrations were measured by the RIA.<BR>The mean AD concentration±S. D. at rest, before and after AT, at peak exercise, 5, 10 and 15min after exercise was 22±11.8pmol/m<I>l</I>, 45±20.7, 63±33.6, 123±82.1, 186±146.9, 154±127.7 and 150±68.5, respectively. A significant increase of AD concentration was observed during the period from before AT until 15 min after exercise, as compared with that at rest. There was a significant relation between AD and lactate (r=0, 54, p<0.01), but there was no significant relation between AD and NE (r=0.08) .<BR>It is concluded that AD may be a contributing factor to increase exercise capacity through its vasodilation effect, suggesting a paracrine interaction between the exercising skeletal muscle and blood vessels.