Relation of exercise capacity to left ventricular systolic function and diastolic filling in idiopathic or ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy

Although exercise intolerance is a cardinal symptom of patients with dilate d cardiomyopathy (DC) and heart failure, the factors that limit exercise ca pacity in these patients remain a matter of debate. To assess the contribut ion of left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling to the variable exercise cap acity of patients with DC, we studied 47 patients (60 +/- 12 years) with DC in stable mild-to-moderate heart failure with a mean LV ejection fraction of 28%. Exercise capacity was measured as total body peak oxygen consumptio n ((V)over dot O-2) during symptom-limited bicycle (10 W/min) and treadmill (modified Bruce protocol) exercise. LV systolic function and diastolic fil ling were assessed at rest before each exercise by M-mode, Doppler echocard iography, and radionuclide ventriculography. As expected, treadmill exercis e always yielded higher peak (V)over dot O-2 than bicycle exercise (21 +/- 6 vs 18 +/- 5 ml/kg/min, range 12 to 35 and 7 to 30 ml/kg/min, respectively , p <0.001). Both of these (V)over dot O-2 measurements were highly reprodu cible (R = 0.98). With univariate analysis, close correlations were found b etween peak (V)over dot O-2 (with either exercise modalities) and Doppler i ndexes of LV diastolic filling, as well as with the radionuclide LV ejectio n fraction. Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified 3 nonexercise variables as independent correlates of peak (V)over dot O-2, Of which the m ost powerful was the E/A ratio (multiple r(2) = 0.38, p <0.0001), followed by peak A velocity (r(2) = 0.54, p <0.0001) and mitral regurgitation grade (r2 = 0.58, p = 0.024). In conclusion, our data indicate that in patients w ith DC, peak (V)over dot O-2 is better correlated to diastolic filling rath er than systolic LV function. (C)1999 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.