ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the effects of exercise on ventricular dyssynchrony in patients with normal and depressed left ventricular (LV) function. BACKGROUND: Asynchronous myocardial contraction adversely influences ventricular function and is associated with a poor prognosis in heart failure. Exercise-induced changes in ventricular dyssynchrony may be an important determinant of dynamic changes in cardiac output and mitral regurgitation. METHODS: A total of 65 consecutive heart failure patients and 50 matched healthy control patients underwent exercise echocardiography. Conventional and tissue Doppler parameters were measured before and during symptom-limited exercise. Left ventricular dyssynchrony was defined as the standard deviation of 12 LV segmental electromechanical delays. Analysis of the control group allowed delimitation of normal cutoff values. RESULTS: In patients with normal left ventricular function, exercise did not modify the extent of LV asynchrony. In contrast, in heart failure patients, LV dyssynchrony increased by at least 20% in 34%, remained stable in 37%, and decreased by at least 20% in 29%. Moreover, 26% of heart failure patients had either exercise induction or normalization of ventricular dyssynchrony. A significant association was found between exercise-induced changes in dyssynchrony and the presence of ischemic cardiomyopathy (p < 0.05). Rest-exercise differences in ventricular dyssynchrony were correlated with changes in cardiac output and mitral regurgitation (r = -0.63 and 0.56, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In heart failure patients, exercise can alter the magnitude of ventricular dyssynchrony. Some patients have a response to exertion with induction of ventricular dyssynchrony, whereas others show normalization. Changes in ventricular dyssynchrony during exercise correlate with alterations in cardiac output and mitral regurgitation.
