Hemodynamic and thermal responses to a 30-minute constant-workload aerobicexercise in middle- or old-aged patients with cardiovascular diseases

The aim of the present investigation was to compare the hemodynamic and the rmal responses to a 30-min aerobic exercise between middle- or old-aged pat ients with normal left ventricular function and those with left ventricular dysfunction. Constant-load sitting ergometer exercise of approximately 90% of the subject's oxygen uptake ((V)overdotO(2)) at the anaerobic threshold for 30 min was conducted in 21 patients with left ventricular dysfunction (61+/-10 years, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 35+/-7%) and 24 p atients with normal left ventricular function (59+/-9 years, LVEF 71+/-7%). Heart rate (HR), blood pressure, deep temperatures in the forehead and thi gh, and forearm skin blood how (SkBF) were measured every minute, and cardi ac output (CO) and stroke volume (SV) were determined every 10 min with the dye-dilution technique during the exercise. Patients of both groups exhibi ted a progressive elevation in each temperature and an increase in SE;BF du ring the exercise. Although the (V)overdotO(2) and CO remained stable, almo st the same magnitude of decrease in SV as increase in HR was seen after th e 10th min of exercise in both groups. The magnitude of the decrease in SV was greater in old-aged than middle-aged patients with left ventricular dys function. Thus, the downward drift in SV during a 30-min constant-load aero bic exercise might not be influenced by left ventricular function, but inte nsified by aging in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.