CARDIOPULMONARY EXERCISE RESTING IN PATIE NTS WITH CHRONIC CARDIAC-FAILURE - COMPARISON WITH NORMAL PEOPLE AND REPRODUCIBILITY OF MEASUREMENTS

The aim of this work was to measure oxygen consumption and carbon diox ide production during exercise in 21 subjects with cardiac failure and 13 normal subjects. During the resting period, subjects with cardiac failure had higher ventilatory frequency and respiratory quotient than normals. During maximal exercise, the former achieved higher ventilat ory frequency and oxygen ventilatory equivalent than normals. In subje cts with cardiac failure and normals, anaerobic thresholds were 14,4 /- 0,9 and 28,8 +/- 2,2 ml/kg/min respectively and peak oxygen consump tions 17,1 +/- 17 and 34,4 +/- 1,7 ml/kg/min respectively. There were less than 10% differences in parameters when tests were repeated in 10 subjects with cardiac failure. It is concluded that gas exchange test ing may be a reliable and objective assessment method in patients with cardiac failure.