METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF MODERN, COMPUTE RIZED CARDIOPULMONARY EXERCISE TESTING (CPX) - RAMP PROGRAM, CONSTANT WORKLOAD TEST AND CO2-REBREATHING METHOD

The cardio-pulmonary exercise testing (CPX) is a non-invasive method f or the evaluation of the cardiopulmonary exercise capacity. Based upon the recent technical progress in gas analysers and personal computers today it is possible to perform CPX with acceptable time conumption, high practicability and high reproducibility of the results in many cl inical areas. CPX is realized on a bike or on a treadmill. In bicycle CPX a ramp program (increase of x watts per minute) or a constant work load test (p.e. with 75% of the watts at anaerobic threshold) are perf ormed. Furthermore, an estimation of the cardiac output using CO2-rebr eathing method can be realized during a ramp program or a constant wor kload test. In this paper, also the CPX parameters of the ramp program , the constant workload test and the CO,rebreathing method are defined and explained. The normal values of CPX are dependent of age, sex, bo dy weight and exercise program. This should be kept in mind in interpr eting the measured CPX data. Additionally, the performance of a routin e CPX will be reported. Furthermore, the accuracy of the CPX parameter s and the potential influences on the data will be discussed. Finally, problems during measurements and their analysis will be clarified.