Abstract
Background Peak oxygen consumption (VO2) is an important criterion for listing patients for cardiac transplantation. β-Blockers improve survival without affecting peak VO2. We questioned the value of peak VO2 in predicting outcome in patients treated with β-blockers. Methods and results We reviewed the records of 127 patients who had peak VO2 measured at baseline and were subsequently treated with β-blockers for at least 3 months. We divided the patients into 2 groups with peak oxygen consumption >14 (VO2 hi) and ≤14 ml·kg·min (VO2 lo). VO2 hi had 109 patients and VO2 lo had 18 patients. The combined end-point of death or cardiac transplantation was compared between groups. Mean peak VO2 and left ventricular ejection fraction were lower in VO2 lo versus VO2 hi: 12.4±1.4 ml·kg·min versus 19.1±3.9 ml·kg·min and 17±8% versus 21±9%, respectively. At 30 months, the percentage of patients who did not reach the combined end-point was 94% in VO2 lo versus 79% in VO2 hi (P=.47). In multivariate analysis, only changes in heart rate and LVEF from baseline to follow-up were predictive of survival. Conclusions Current peak VO2 cutoff does not predict survival without transplantation of patients who tolerate chronic treatment with β-blockers.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 15-20 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Cardiac Failure |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2004 |
Keywords
- Oxygen uptake
- exercise
- heart transplantation
- prognosis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine